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I always tell my patients about the well know association between numerous skin tags under the breast and neck area and polyps in the colon. These polyps can at times become or turn into colon cancer. Here is another association worth noticing.

Number of moles may be a predictor of breast cancer

Zhang M. PLOS Medicine. 2014. doi:10.137/journal/pmed.1001659.

• June 12, 2014

The number of cutaneous nevi, or moles, on the body may be a reflection of plasma hormone levels and help predict patients’ risk for breast cancer independently of other known factors, study results have shown.

Using the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers prospectively analyzed the relative risk of breast cancer among 74,523 female nurses based on the number of cutaneous nevi reported. The participants were followed from 1986 to 2010.

Participants reported the number of cutaneous nevi on their left arms, from shoulder to wrist, that were 3 mm or greater in diameter. The researchers grouped the women into four categories based on the number of reported nevi: none, one to five, six to 14 and 15 or more.

Invasive breast cancer was documented in 5,483 cases. Women with more cutaneous nevi had a significantly increased risk of developing subsequent breast cancer, according to the researchers (P = .003).

During the 24-year follow-up, absolute risk of developing breast cancer increased from 8.48% among women without cutaneous nevi to 8.82% for women with one to five nevi, 9.75% for women with six to 14 nevi, and 11.4% for women with 15 or more nevi. Every five additional nevi found was reported to increase breast cancer risk by 8%.

The researchers also reported that the number of nevi seemed to be associated only with the risk of estrogen receptor-positive tumors. Women with more nevi had higher levels of estradiol and testosterone (P = .02 and P = .06, respectively).

Attention to detail is the key to a successful procedure

I think in Cosmetic Surgery, much like in day to day life, attention to detail can mean the difference between mediocre results versus great results. Allow me to elaborate. I often sit in front of a patient for a cosmetic consultation. Patients in their late 40s and 50s come to me for my advice on how to look younger and feel better. A brief glance allows me to evaluate their face on 6 or 7 different levels. I see signs of sun damage from their early youth indiscretions, signs of weight gain and loss, stresses of life, poor eating habits, bone erosion, and effects of smoking and smog here in Los Angeles. The question I often get asked is : What do I need Doc?”

I often sit back and say with a calm voice: you don’t need anything. Then I ask their permission to share with them what I see and Analyze their face or body. At times I take photographs with my 3D Vectra Camera and show them their sun damaged skin, asymmetrical volume distribution and eyebrow locations. It is quite amazing how little people actually know their own skin and faces. My simple goal is to make them look the way they did 10 or 20 years ago.

Very few patients have noticed these subtle changes. At times I can see my patients becoming defensive and almost upset at me for pointing out the things I see.

I then put a program together for them that address these changes on several levels.

Tightening the skin without cutting, thickening the skin and removing blood vessels and blemishes, and filling the irregular contouring is only part of this program. Good nutrition and exercise is the second half.

Looking younger and healthier without cutting surgery is a reality in 2014. Please see us for a complimentary consultation and discussion on how to achieve our goal of making you look and feel 10-15 years younger.

Yours,

Dr. A. David Rahimi