News & Events

The Latest & Greatest

The Ta-Ta Sisterhood

July 2010

Spreading the Word One Sister At A Time

WPS is proud to be a sponser of the Ta-Ta Sisterhood, Inc.

"Ta-Ta Sisterhood, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation that envisions a world without breast cancer. The sale of our clothing generates funds to help us achieve our mission of increasing the awareness, prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and eradication of breast cancer worldwide. " from their website.

Learn more about this great organization in our local news:

WECT Video - TA Ta Sisterhood putting together a breast cancer calendar

WHQR Mid-Day Cafe - talking with Gail Calloway and Lauren Levian of the Ta-Ta Sisterhood of the Cape Fear.

 

Boo-tox Spook-tacular

October 2009

Run for the Ta-Taas 5k and 1 Mile Walk

September 2009

Wilmington Plastic Surgery joined host sponsors TrySports and Atlantic Spinal Rehab and Wellness Clinic in sponsoring Wilmington’s first annual Run For The Ta-Tas 5K and 1-Mile Walk on October 3, 2009.

The race was held in honor of all friends, family and community members who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and in memory of those who have succumbed to the disease. All proceeds benefited The Pink Ribbon Project of the New Hanover Regional Medical Center Foundation.

Since its inception, the Pink Ribbon Project has raised more than $1,000,000 and provided more than 4,000 Comfort Bags to area women as they undergo treatment for breast cancer. (Learn more about the Pink Ribbon Project)

Preventative Mastectomy and Reconstruction:
One Woman’s Story

September 2009

Finding out your mother or your sister has breast cancer can be devastating. Now imagine that they both receive that diagnosis—on the very same day.

“It was surreal,” said Margee Herring of that January day in 2003. “My mother called me with the news of both her cancer, and my sister, Karen’s. It was simply stunning. All of a sudden, breast cancer was a very real part of my family. The statistics had landed at home.”

Both her mother and sister had radical mastectomies of their affected breasts. Karen required additional treatment – chemotherapy and radiation – but their mother did not.  With treatments and healing completed, life resumed and the cancer became a part of the family’s history.

But another blow was yet to be delivered – an ironic five years later, the point at which cancer survivors are said to have “beaten cancer.”

“My sister’s cancer returned one month after a clean scan,” recalled Margee. “It came back as inflammatory breast cancer, the most aggressive kind, and it had already metastasized.” That was January, 2008. For the rest of that year and the first part of 2009, Margee lived in two places: at home in Wilmington and in Washington, DC, where she cared for her sister.

Incredibly, upon returning home from an extended stretch with Karen, she discovered her own lump. “It was a cruel kind of affront. Looking back, I think my husband and I were in a mild state of shock.” Within a week or so, doctors determined her lump was a benign cyst – no need even for a biopsy.

“But the doctors sat me down and said that my own breast health—having very dense fibrocystic breasts— combined with my family history suggested I needed a prophylactic double mastectomy,” she explained. Margee cautioned that this isn't the solution for women who simply want to avoid breast cancer. However for someone like her, given her family history and personal tendencies, she was advised that it was a wise choice. 

“Perhaps given the context of my sister’s prognosis, it was an easier decision,” she admitted. “There was an element of feeling a bit smug, as if I could outsmart the cancer by getting there first.” 

Reconstruction following mastectomy is the standard of care, so together with her supportive, loving family and friends, Margee prepared herself for not one, but two, major surgeries. In September of 2008, Greg Bebb. M.D. performed the double mastectomy. For the reconstruction procedure, Margee chose Wilmington Plastic Surgery whose surgeons are recognized leaders in this type of operation.

“There’s no doubt that confidence in my surgeons and in my post-operative appearance eased my apprehension,” said Margee. Of Charles Kays, M.D., who performed the reconstruction, Margee said, “Everyone sings Dr. Kays’ praises for his breast work and now I'm an enthusiastic part of that choir.

“Dr. Kays and the entire Wilmington Plastic Surgery staff, especially Julie, just made me feel genuinely taken care of physically and emotionally,” Margee continued. “There’s a sincerity in their care that is truly bolstering.”

Margee is now completely recovered and looks back on her own surgery as a mere footnote to her year. Following her recovery, she went right back to caring for her sister, who succumbed to her disease and died in mid-March. 

“Karen’s battle and ultimate death is a reminder that we need to be proactive with breast cancer on all fronts,” said Margee. “We need to educate all women on the importance of monthly self-examinations, advocate regular mammograms, and support aggressive research for new treatments in hopes of a cure. I really hope my teenaged daughter and her generation will have far more and better options than surgery to avoid breast cancer in the future.”

Brooke Shields teams up with LATISSE®

June 2009

Borrowing on the tradition of blowing on an eyelash to make a wish come true, the LATISSE® Wishes campaign aims to raise awareness and support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Allergan has already committed $500,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and, with your help, will increase this donation to $1 million. Actress Brooke Shields and beauty expert Anastasia Soare have joined Allergan to launch this campaign to help make wishes come true. 

LATISSE® solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker. 

Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes. 

"As a mother, I am so proud to associate myself with LATISSE®, which is not only a wonderful product, but has the vision to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help children around the country."
                 – Brooke Shields, Official Spokesperson for LATISSE®


See Brooke's lash transformation at Latisse.com. Be sure to check back regularly for updated pictures!

Forbes.com - The Latest Options in Dermal Fillers

May 2009

"Cosmetic injections can put off the signs of aging for years. But with so many available, which one should you use?"

Click here to read more.

Wilmington Magazine March / April - Without Borders

March / April 2009

Dominican Republic
Dr. Kenneth White
Plastic Surgery

Kenneth White began his medical mission work while a third-year surgery resident in Wilmington. He traveled to the Dominican Republic with another doctor to perform reconstructive surgeries, an experience that secured his resolve to make mission work a major part of his life.

As a plastic surgeon with Wilmington Plastic Surgery, White decided to adopt the Dominican Republic as his permanent mission home, beginning with more mission trips there in 1990. Through his work there, White became the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Medical Ministry International (MMI), a group that works to meet the medical-care needs among the world’s poor with solutions in medicine, patient care and health education. Through the organization, White is able to take 20 to 25 volunteers to the Dominican Republic each year to establish new medical facilities and bring much-needed equipment and supplies to the poor areas they visit. And with the help of Rusty Carter and Atlantic Packaging in Wilmington, White is now able to transport most of their equipment and supplies for free. "It has turned into a big and effective system," White says of the outreach work they’re doing. "There is no way we could achieve what we are able to achieve without the help of the non-medical volunteers and other members of our community."

As the Dominican Republic government does have a functioning public health system, the availability and quality of care is not consistent throughout the country. White describes the local facilities as small, 20- to 30-bed centers with two operating rooms. "The operating facilities really don’t get used," White says. "We bring everything we need to perform treatments and procedures at the centers, and most of the work is done by medical teams traveling from village to village to treat individuals in need." White and his teams work on a broad range of problems, such as cleft lip and palette surgeries, traumatic injuries and scars. During their trips they will perform more than 120 operations in eight working days.

In addition to his yearly trips to the Dominican Republic, White’s position with MMI takes him throughout the rest of the world, too, where he helps to emphasize the need for programs like this in developing areas. "This work, of course, is a miracle for the people we treat who would not have the help otherwise." White says. "But in reality, it is almost a reverse mission because the volunteers go to these places and get a more realistic view of the rest of the world that they are able to bring back to their communities."

Now accepting TRICARE

October 2008

We are proud to announce that as of October 1st we are now accepting TRICARE, a component of the Military Health System.

WPS Co-Sponsoring A Night of Serious Fun

September 2008

Wilmington Plastic Surgery is teaming up with La Bella Forma to sponsor a Girls’ Night Out on Tuesday, September 9, 6-9 p.m., at Soho Steakhouse on Oleander Drive. Created by Focus on the Coast magazine, Girls’ Night Out is an opportunity for area women to have a good time while supporting a serious cause. It’s a night of networking, plus food, drinks, live music and fabulous raffles. The beneficiary of the evening is the Pink Ribbon Foundation, an organization that helps provide comfort and support for area women diagnosed with breast cancer. The first 100 to register and pay online will received a coveted Girls’ Night Out gift bag. Visit www.focusonthecoast.com to register or for more information.

Breast Cancer Survivors Invited to a Celebration of Life

September 2008

Wilmington Plastic Surgery and La Bella Forma are co-hosting a party for breast cancer survivors who are our patients and their clients. The celebratory event will be held on Thursday, October 16, 2008, from 6 until 9 p.m. at La Bella Forma in The Forum shopping center on Military Cutoff Road.

Wilmington Plastic Surgery will be offering special discounts on facials and holding a raffle for other valuable products and services. Charles Kays, DMD, MD, FACS, will be speaking about medical advances in reconstructive surgery over the past 20 years. For more information, please contact La Bella Forma, 256-1220.

Continued Excellence

August 2008

Wilmington Plastic surgery is pleased to announce that Drs. Jeff Church and Charles Kays have successfully passed the Maintenance of Certification process instituted by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

The examination process required by the American Board of Plastic Surgery is nearly a one year evaluation of the plastic surgeons surgical practice, continuing education, current recommendations, delineation of hospital privileges, culminating in a comprehensive written examination. The complete recertification is required every 10 years, with lifelong learning requirements and periodic review every 3, 6, and 9 years, making the American Board of Plastic Surgery recertification one of the most comprehensive in medical practice.

Wilmington Plastic Surgery congratulates Drs. Church and Kays and continues to offer the community exemplary plastic surgery by five Board Certified Plastic surgeons with a combined total of 85 years experience.

North Brunswick Magazine Summer Issue, Skin Cancer Article

Summer 2008

For decades many people considered sun-tanned skin to be synonymous with health and beauty. In both cases, however, it promotes just the opposite. Sun exposure is not only the biggest contributor to premature aging, it is also the leading cause of the most common type of cancer in the United States: skin cancer.... Click here to read more.

North Brunswick Magazine - Spring - Business Profile

Spring 2008

With locations beyond Wilmington and services beyond plastic surgery, there’s so much more to Wilmington Plastic Surgery (WPS) than the name implies.

For more than 25 years, the area’s most established, board-certified plastic surgery practice has been serving a seven-county region in southeastern North Carolina. Along with its two Wilmington locations, WPS has satellite offices in Jacksonville, Whiteville, Supply and in Leland’s Waterford Medical Plaza.... Click here to read more.

Southport Magazine - May/June - Monthly Feature Health Beat

May / June 2008

Among the most important developments in the past
couple of decades is a topical medication called Aldara
that successfully treats 80% of basal cell skin cancers
without surgery.... Click here to read more.