“We have dry heat! We have steam! We have moisturizing cream! We have mud packs! It’s a rigorous regime. Not a wrinkle when you twinkle or a waddle when you walk. Of course, there’s bound to be a little suffering. Eternal youth is worth a little suffering.”
So sings a chorus of Hollywood aestheticians to the desperate Norma Desmond, a reclusive silent-screen star, as they primp and prep her for her big comeback in the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical/Billy Wilder film “Sunset Boulevard.”
Aesthetic treatments at Kansas Surgical Arts — while effective — are far less histrionic. Stephanie Oberhelman, M.D., is a highly trained and experienced surgeon, not a drama queen. She cares about the whole health and wellness of her patients, and hers is a commitment that’s more than skin deep.
As a general surgeon, Dr. Oberhelman has specialized for years in colonoscopy and endoscopy. She was an advocate for colon screening long before colon health was cool. She noticed that while women will readily have mammograms, pap smears and pelvic exams, they’re often reluctant to get a colonoscopy. Many of them think of colon cancer as a man’s disease. Dr. Oberhelman reminds them that the incidence of colon cancer is about the same for women as it is for men, and it is preventable. She recommends that patients start screening at age 50 if there is no family history of the disease—and younger if there is. “I believe in strong communication with my patients. I have open, honest discussions with them, and I tell them that the worst part is the bowel prep. But for the procedure you get an IV, you take a nap, wake up and go home; there’s no discomfort and nearly no downtime with the new anesthetics.”
Colonoscopies may not sound very alluring, but there is a more glamorous side to Dr. Oberhelman’s practice as well: body contouring and aesthetics.
She first became interested in body contouring when she treated a morbidly obese woman with a hernia. She explained to the patient that she would be dealing with a host of medical problems and an early death if she didn’t lose some weight. The next time she saw the woman, she had lost 100 pounds through bariatric surgery but she was concerned about excess abdominal skin. “I have a real desire to work with patients after massive weight loss,” explains Dr. Oberhelman. “They typically have been through a lot and they need encouragement. They are some of the most rewarding patients to care for.”
While she still feels a passion for this type of patient, a major focus of her practice is treating venous insufficiency. With VI, venous reflux (blood flowing in the wrong direction) causes a build up of pressure and blood in the legs and this leads to varicose veins and possibly leg discomfort. It can even result in edema and skin changes such as discoloration and ulceration. Whether we blame gender, genetics, pregnancy, obesity or some other theoretical cause, the disease is widespread. Dr. Oberhelman estimates that venous ulcers affect 4 percent of individuals over the age of 65. While we might expect senior citizens to exhibit a higher rate of CVI than the rest of the population, consider that that 10 to 30 percent of the adults in the United States have Chronic Venous Insufficiency. More than 4.5 million productive work days are lost every year because of the problems associated with CVI and more than $1 billion is spent every year on CVI-related medical care. Clearly, CVI is not just a geriatric issue.
But Dr. Oberhelman is encouraged by the new technologies that allow for more accurate diagnoses and treatment of CVI. She enjoys this specialty because it’s office-based and it allows her to be efficient with her time. She performs many of her procedures in a physician-owned surgery center next door. “And when other staffers are doing procedures,” she says, “I’m here in the building supervising closely.” She’s especially satisfied by the quick results with CVI patients.
As her practice has grown, more and more women began requesting other services. Along with her staff nurse-aesthetician Tina Sholl, ARNP, Dr. Oberhelman offers Botox and fillers such as Juvederm and Radiesse. They also provide laser treatments such as laser skin rejuvenation and laser hair reduction, plus chemical peels and skin care products. Sholl is a nurse practitioner with extensive training in aesthetics who receives high praise from Dr. Oberhelman. “I surround myself with people who are talented and just as passionate about taking care of my patients as I am. I really have a remarkable team.”
“No more crows feet; no more flab! No more love handles to grab! Nothing sagging; nothing bagging! Nothing dragging on the floor! Of course there’s bound to be a little suffering. Eternal youth is worth a little suffering.”
The chorus of “Sunset Boulevard” aestheticians sing of a utopian vision of perpetual youth and fitness. We all know it’s not quite that easy to achieve. That’s why Dr. Oberhelman and her staff aren’t promising the impossible. “It’s important to have realistic goals. We find out why the patient wants a procedure or why they weren’t pleased with something they had done in the past. Again, it comes down to communication. ‘What do you hope to accomplish?’ we ask. We have to manage patient expectations.”
Dr. Oberhelman’s high patient satisfaction rate and promising long-term results would indicate that she’s successful in doing just that. The goal is to help patients simply look and feel their best—to be the healthiest, most vibrant versions of them selves possible. With minimal suffering!
