Myringotomy Surgery for Ear Tubes
A myringotomy is a procedure to create a hole in the eardrum to allow fluid that is trapped in the middle ear to drain out.
What Are the Warning Signs of Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is more than just snoring. It’s a sleep disorder in which breathing abruptly stops and starts during the night. It can potentially be a serious issue and lead to health problems in the future. It’s important to know how to determine whether you have it or not in order to take action.
A partner’s observation
The easiest way to determine whether you have sleep apnea is when a partner notices your breathing abruptly stops for a long pause of a few seconds before abruptly starting again. This is often how some first come to suspect it. If your partner or someone in your house notices you suddenly gasping for breath at night or stopping breathing for a few seconds at a time, you are likely experiencing sleep apnea. Your partner or a household member may also notice very loud snoring; this in itself does not mean you have sleep apnea, but it often comes along with sleep apnea.
You wake up at night feeling like you couldn’t breathe
If you don’t have a partner who sleeps with you or someone in the house who can check if you’re experiencing trouble breathing, there are some other warning signs you can look out for. One is if you wake up at night gasping for breath. The sudden intake of air after a period of not breathing sometimes wakes up the person suffering from sleep apnea.
Exhaustion during the day
If you are feeling exhausted during the day despite sleeping at least 7-9 hours each night, sleep apnea is a possible culprit. Sleep apnea deprives your body of a good night’s sleep.
Headache upon waking up
Another sign you may be experiencing sleep apnea is if you wake up with a headache. This could be due to the fact that your body is constantly being deprived of oxygen for periods of time while asleep.
Dry mouth
Upon waking up, if you notice you have a very dry mouth, this could be a sign of sleep apnea. This should be taken in conjunction with other signs, however, since it could also simply mean you are sleeping with your mouth open, which doesn’t necessarily mean sleep apnea.
Record yourself sleeping
Some smart watches or sleep apps have a sleep feature where you can get a recording of any noises you make during the night. This includes snoring and may include sleep apnea.
If you notice that you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, see your doctor or an Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist. They can order what is called a sleep study to determine whether episodes of sleep apnea are present and, if so, how many and your blood oxygen level throughout the night. From there, they can determine if treatment is necessary as well as which treatment option(s) are available to you.
What to expect when you have a mole removed
Moles can be surgically removed, burned away, or shaved off. There is a minor risk of infection, but side effects are generally minor.
ClariFix – procedure and treatment
ClariFix® Cryotherapy is a safe, clinically proven and minimally invasive treatment that targets the source of your symptoms for lasting relief.
How Upper Eyelid Surgery Can Improve Your Appearance (and Self-Esteem!)
The eyes are one of the most prominent features of the face and are part of what makes your appearance uniquely. Eyelid surgery can help!
Is a Deviated Septum Causing Your Snoring?
A deviated septum is a common contributor to snoring. Here is how to tell if you have a deviated septum and if it could be causing your snoring, as well as what solutions and treatments are available to help.
What is a deep plane or SMAS facelift?
The SMAS rhytidectomy, also known as an SMAS facelift, is a surgical procedure that targets the lower two-thirds of the face.
How long does an endoscopic brow lift last?
As part of the aging process, certain components the skin needs, like collagen and hyaluronic acid, are produced less and less. This results in the entire face losing elasticity and beginning to sag and wrinkle. A facelift is very effective for the cheek, lower face, and jaw areas—the lower two thirds of the face are worked on with a facelift. Brow lifts on the other hand focus on the upper third of the face: the forehead and eyebrow area. This procedure can help with forehead lines and wrinkles as well as ptosis of the eyebrows. Ptosis of the eyebrows causes a constant “scowling” or tired look. An endoscopic brow lift helps reverse this.
Endoscopic brow lift procedure
Endoscopic brow lifts are a type of brow lift done using a small camera to help increase accuracy if the inside and middle portions of the brow need to be lifted, allowing smaller incisions to be made. This method allows for much less scarring, less bruising, and a much less invasive procedure. Recently an even less invasive approach using a single incision behind the hairline in the temple can be used to lift the outside part of the brow: the extended temporal brow lift or “pony tail lift”
Endoscopic brow lifts are an outpatient procedure, and take about one to two hours if done on their own. You may also choose to get another procedure done the same day, such as a blepharoplasty, lower facelift, and/or neck lift. Endoscopic brow lifts are occasionally done under local anesthesia, but usually are performed under general anesthesia.
During the procedure itself, several small incisions will be made just behind the hairline. Using an endoscope camera for guidance, your doctor will cut away any excess skin, and reposition muscle and other tissues using thin tools. The frown muscles that are treated with neuromodulators such as Botox can be surgically partially removed, lessening the need for these injections in the future. This will give your forehead and eyebrow area an overall rejuvenated look. After the procedure, you can go home the same day.
How long does an endoscopic brow lift last?
Like a facelift, an endoscopic brow lift is a fairly long-lasting procedure as far as plastic surgeries go. Results are considered to be permanent; unlike fillers or Botox for example, the results don’t “wear off” with time. However, with time, further droopiness and loss of elasticity occurs due to the effects of aging. In general, you can expect results to stay for about an average of 10 years, after which further age-related issues may come into play. This also depends on your own skin care…amount of sun exposure and upkeep, as well as your skin’s natural level of elasticity, and your age when you get the procedure. If you want to further stretch out your results, ask your doctor about regular Botox injections. And if you notice your results have been fading, a second endoscopic brow lift procedure can be performed down the line. If you’re considering refreshing the look of your face, consider an endoscopic brow lift. Dr. Edmund Fisher has years of experience performing multiple endoscopic brow lifts and can advise you on next steps. See some of Dr. Fisher’s brow lift work here, and give the office a call today and find out how we can help you.
Chronic Rhinitis – symptoms that persists for months or even years
Rhinitis is a condition in which the mucous layer of the nose becomes inflamed. This causes symptoms such as a runny or itchy nose, sneezing, congestion, and/or a post nasal drip. These symptoms can wear on you, especially if they’re lasting long-term. In this blog we’ll discuss the different causes of chronic rhinitis, as well as what you can do in terms of treatment.
Chronic rhinitis
Chronic rhinitis is defined as rhinitis that lasts for more than 6 consecutive weeks. In some, this condition goes on for months or even years. Chronic rhinitis can lead to something called post-nasal drip. This is when excess mucus drains from the nose back through the throat. This is more than a bothersome symptom; it can cause a sore throat, cough, and the feeling of frequently needing to clear the throat. Long term chronic rhinitis can lead to polyps growing in the sinuses.
Allergic rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is rhinitis that occurs as an allergic reaction to something. Common allergens that trigger rhinitis include: pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. Allergies are the most common cause of rhinitis. A common term used to refer to allergic rhinitis is “hay fever.” Those who experience allergic rhinitis usually also experience other allergy symptoms such as itchy throat or watery eyes.
Non-allergic rhinitis
Rhinitis can also occur as a result of other things. Rhinitis can occur as a symptom of certain medications. Rhinitis may occur during pregnancy. It could also occur as a reaction to certain environmental pollutants, or to smoking (whether firsthand or secondhand smoke). Some even experience rhinitis in response to strong scents such as perfume and perfumed items.
Treatment for chronic rhinitis
If your rhinitis is due to allergies, or a reaction to tobacco smoke or pollutants, you should try to avoid or limit exposure to these triggers, but that’s not always feasible or practical for everyone. A home remedy often recommended is nasal irrigation to clear out the sinus passageways. If both of these are not helping your condition much, it’s time to get checked out by a healthcare professional. There are treatment options available when more conservative methods are not working. Chronic rhinitis that is lasting for months or even years should also get checked out by a healthcare professional. This can help prevent long-term problems associated with chronic rhinitis. Your doctor may prescribe antihistamines or nasal steroid spray if your chronic rhinitis is due to allergies. If you are looking for a more long term solution,the Clarifix procedure using cryotherapy under local anesthesia s another option.
Chronic rhinitis symptoms can take a toll on your quality of life. If you are suffering from chronic rhinitis, seek out an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist who can help you find relief.
Otoplasty – Ear correction surgery
Otoplasties are done to correct the appearance of the outer ear, or pinna. Learn more about this procedure here.
