Nobody likes filling out forms. It feels like a chore to show up 30 minutes early, only to sit in an uncomfortable chair in the waiting room checking endless boxes. Well, at Dr. Brantner’s office we’ve provided more comfortable chairs and an easier way to fill out your medical forms. Why are medical forms so important?
What to Know about Medical Forms
We do our best to keep your paperwork to a minimum, but medical forms are necessary for your health and protection. When you make an appointment with Dr. Brantner, you’ll need to read and sign these forms:
Financial Policy (ensures that patients understand copays, insurance, and their financial responsibilities)
Advanced Healthcare Directive (information about patients’ rights to make their own healthcare decisions)
Consent for Photography (allows Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to take photographs when necessary for a procedure)
PHI Consent (Information regarding the privacy of your protected health information)
You’ll also need to fill out the following forms:
New Patient Intake/History (gives our healthcare professionals necessary information regarding your health, medical history, and family history)
Registration Info (Personal and insurance information of the patient)
Tips for Filling Out Medical Forms
Save time by downloading your medical forms from our website, filling them out at home, and bringing them with you to your appointment.
If you cannot fill out your forms prior to your appointment, arrive early so you have time to do so before your scheduled appointment.
Read each form thoroughly before signing.
Notify our office about current medications (including how frequently you take them), as well as over-the-counter drugs and vitamin supplements, which can affect healing.
Know your health history and family medical history before your appointment.
Double check your health information for accuracy before we add it to our records.
As July comes to a close, folks around Johnson City are taking advantage of the last few weeks of summer. Everyone enjoys days spent by the pool or lake, outdoor adventures, and last-minute trips to the beach. And playing in the sun is a great way to boost your vitamin D and have fun with the people you love. But exposure to UV rays also increases your risk of skin cancer. Do you know the signs of melanoma? Early detection through self-examination is the key to catching skin cancer while it’s still curable.
Melanoma Protection
You don’t have to stay indoors to protect yourself from skin cancer. Follow these tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation to reduce your risk of melanoma.
Wear SPF of 15 or higher anytime you go outside
Use broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays
Don’t let your skin burn
Never tan or visit tanning beds
Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen 15-30 minutes before going outside
Cover up with protective clothing and sunglasses
Sit in the shade during the hottest part of the day
Do a self-exam monthly and schedule an annual skin exam with a physician
How to Detect Melanoma
Atypical moles are the primary sign of melanoma. When performing your self-exam, look for:
Asymmetrical moles
Moles with an uneven border or scalloped edges
Multiple colors in the same mole
Moles the size of a pencil eraser or larger
Moles that change shape, size, or color
Protect your skin this summer. If you find a mole that matches the warning signs of melanoma, make an appointment with a physician. For more information about detecting and treating skin cancer, call Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
The era of false youth is over. Today embracing your natural mature beauty is in style. Instead of hiding behind harsh hair dyes and stark makeup, women find satisfaction in subtle rejuvenation, physical fitness, and nourishing their souls. Together, health of body and mind helps each woman achieve her own timeless charm that’s impossible to duplicate.
How Healthy Habits Delay Aging
Healthy habits have a more powerful anti-aging effect than any make-up ever could. Protect your skin by cutting back on sugar and alcohol, which lead to premature wrinkles, sagging, and sallowness. A healthy, balanced diet fuels your body to minimize the effects of aging.
Staying physically active rewards women with youthful skin in addition to a fit figure. Researchers at McMaster University in Ontario recently discovered that older adults who got at least three hours of moderate-to-vigorous exercise a week had skin composition similar to that of people in their twenties and thirties.
When you hit the cosmetics aisle, look for skin care products with anti-aging properties. These are typically gentler and more moisturizing than standard formulas. Higher-quality products soften fine lines, brighten your skin tone, and diminish age spots. While you’re there, pick up some sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher. There’s no better way to protect the skin than by using sunscreen daily.
For existing age-related skin damage, plastic surgery can create dramatic improvements through subtle changes. Eyelid surgery improves the look of under eye bags and fat deposits, while a mini facelift smooths wrinkles and folds.
Mental health is an often overlooked aspect of women’s health, but it too plays a role in your appearance. A good part of that natural glow that twenty-somethings have comes from sheer zest for life; and that’s a trait that knows no age limit. Support your mental health by spending time with your family, investing in your church, and making time for your true passions. Doing what you love will bring a light to your eyes that gives you confidence at any age.
To learn more about rejuvenation of the face and body, call Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to schedule a consultation.
As the New Year approaches, we sit back and reflect on the triumphs and failures of the year past. We resolve to do better, be healthier, achieve more. New Year’s resolutions are full of hopes and frustrations. They range from things as simple as “be happier” to those as complicated as “achieve my dream figure.” But your goals are not out of reach. Achieve your resolutions this year with these tricks for beating the odds.
How to Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions
Write it down. Whether your goal is health-based, relationship-based, or emotion-based, writing it down will give you an external motivator to keep trying. Set tangible, achievable goals (no “look like I did in high school” resolutions here). As you work toward your goal, check off smaller, mini-goals along the way.
Change your lifestyle. If you simply vow to exercise more and eat better, you’ll be off track by the middle of January. Instead of renewing your gym membership or going carb-free, reset your way of thinking. Take the stairs, park farther from the grocery store entrance, and find a fitness buddy to make your workouts more fun. Instead of swearing off sweets and carbs, find a healthier diet you can actually enjoy. A lifestyle change will give you the results you want, whereas an all-or-nothing regimen will have you back at square one in a matter of months.
Research first. Have you quietly wished for a breast augmentation for years? Do you wonder if a reduction could relieve your chronic back pain? Do you feel that a face lift could renew your confidence? Before making any major surgical decisions, always research your options. Learn about the procedure, look through before and after photos, and schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. If you feel unsure about your decision, postpone it until you’re confident in your choice.
It’s time to put your best foot forward! Happy New Year from Dr. Brantner’s office!
The combination of winter’s chill and the all-encompassing warmth indoors leaves skin dry, cracked, and inflamed. If you’ve recently had a facelift, necklift, or facial rejuvenation procedure, your skin is more tender than usual – and thus more susceptible to the harshness of winter weather. Keep skin smooth and healthy for this year’s holiday pictures by paying special care to skin care during the winter months.
Post Procedure Skin Care
Non-surgical cosmetic procedures allow patients to get noticeably healthier skin without the cost or recuperation of a facelift. Whether you have a full facelift, Juvederm, or a chemical peel on your wishlist this year, proper skin care is critical to achieving that youthful glow.
Wash your skin (and the area around sutures) as recommended by your doctor
Use gentle, fragrance-free facial cleansers and moisturizers
Avoid wearing makeup until allowed by your doctor
Tips for Healthier Skin
Whether or not you’re planning a cosmetic procedure, a good skin care routine is vital during the winter months. Properly caring for your skin preserves the strength and elasticity of your skin, helping you keep your natural youthfulness.
Use an oil-based moisturizer, which will create a protective layer between your skin and the elements
A healthy skincare routine can make all the difference, whether you’re prepping your skin for a facelift or keeping it smooth and youthful after a derma peel. The long autumn has given the South a reprieve on dry, red skin, but cold weather is on its way. Protect your skin during the winter with these doctor-recommended skin care tips.
How to Protect Your Skin in Winter
Avoid excessive heat. Small luxuries like a hot shower or bubble bath can leach moisture from the skin. Extreme heat can cause the surface lipid barriers in the skin to break down, drying out the skin. Take warm showers instead of hot showers. It’s also a good idea to refrain from blasting the heat your home or car. Going from the chilly outdoors to a heated interior will shock the skin, causing the same dryness as hot showers.
Invest in a humidifier. You may first notice the dry air because of a sore throat, but it wreaks havoc on your skin, too. Fill a humidifier and keep it running while you’re home. This introduces moisture into the air and keeps your skin from drying out. Change the water periodically to prevent the growth of mold or mildew.
Apply moisturizer. Moisturizer should already be part of your morning routine, but it’s twice as important to hydrate your skin in winter. Find a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer and apply it after your morning shower and before you go to bed. Don’t forget to moisturize your hands, elbows, and any dry patches as well.
Stop smoking. Smoking isn’t just bad for your lungs. Medical studies show that smoking leads to dry skin and increased signs of aging. Keep your skin healthy and glowing by kicking the nicotine habit.
Lather up. Most people don’t use sunscreen in the winter, but the sun’s UV rays can do just as much damage when it’s cold outside. Use an SPF of at least 15 on your face and lips to protect your skin during the cooler months. If you don’t want an extra step in your morning routine, find a foundation and lip balm with built-in sunscreen.
Want to be the best you you can be? Contact Dr. Brantner for more information on skin care, non-surgical facial rejuvenation, and facelifts.
We do our best to keep your paperwork to a minimum, but medical forms are necessary for your health and protection. When you make an appointment with Dr. Brantner, you’ll need to read and sign these forms:
