wellness
Trey Bishop
Carlos Cordero INTERNAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN
Q: What were the most common treatments in 2022? A: The
most common treatments during 2022 were centered around
therapies associated with the management and prevention of
the Covid-19 virus. The various Covid-19 vaccinations that were
approved and distributed across the United States in 2021 and
2022 were important in prevention but also helped decrease
symptom severity for those who contracted the virus after being
vaccinated. As time has passed, the medical community has
learned from the evolution of the virus and developed more
targeted treatments, including the use of the drug Paxlovid.
Q: What trend or trends do you see coming in 2023? A:
During the pandemic the healthcare industry was challenged
to help keep people less exposed to sickness and dove deeper
into the use of telemedicine in both inpatient and outpatient
settings. As a result, the use of telemedicine went from being
viewed as an option to more of a necessity and eventually gained
a high percentage of acceptance as an appropriate method of
treatment for both the medical community and the general
patient population. I expect that telemedicine will continue to
expand in 2023 and beyond. Patients will have access to providers
from their home or other non-traditional medical settings and
the opportunity to have consultations with a wide range of
specialties, including neurology, infectious disease, critical care
medicine and psychiatry, just to name a few.
Q: Are there any new technologies, procedures or treatments
you are excited about? A: It has been exciting to witness Hilton
Head Regional Healthcare’s (HHRH) offering of several advanced
surgical robotic technologies, including the ExcelsiusGPS used in
the treatment of spine, the daVinci Surgical System for a variety
of treatments including urological and gynecological procedures
and the CORI surgical system for custom joint replacements. The
advancements of these techniques and expansion of their use will
continue to drive less invasive procedures and shorter recoveries
for our patients, which is always our goal. HHRH has recently
begun offering WATCHMAN Implant procedures for qualified
atrial fibrillation (A-fib) patients to reduce the risk of strokes that
originate in the left atrial appendage. Also related to the heart,
there are new cardiology/electrophysiology (EP) procedures,
minimally invasive pace-maker implants and advancements in
heart monitor loop recorders, collectively helping to provide
consistent feedback regarding the operation of the heart.
EXPERT ADVICE Prevention is the key to maintaining good
health. Don’t put routine screenings and annual checkups off, as
they are the first line of sight for health changes as we get older.
I encourage our community members to get their vaccinations,
participate in annual health screenings, maintain a healthy
lifestyle and stay in close contact with their local providers.
Dr. Carlos Cordero is the Chief of Medical Staff at Hilton
Head Hospital.
60 LocalLifeSC.com + JANUARY 2023
OPHTHALMOLOGIST
Q: What was the
most popular
procedure in 2022?
A: Laser refractive
cataract surgery
remained our most
popular procedure
in 2022. Cataract
surgery is by far the
most common procedure performed by physicians in the United
States annually. Fortunately, it is also one of the safest and most
successful. Traditional cataract surgery involves removal of the
cloudy natural lens and insertion of a new clear lens implant to
restore vision. Laser refractive cataract surgery elevates the goal
of traditional cataract surgery. It involves carefully analyzing
the patient’s visual potential, developing a custom-tailored
Bonnie Rothwell DENTIST
surgical plan and refining the surgical procedure, all in an effort Q: What was the most popular procedure
to enhance the patient’s visual performance and freedom from in 2022? A: Most popular cosmetic dental
glasses and contacts. procedures for 2022 are a mix of porcelain
veneers which continue to be very popular
Q: What trend or trends do you see coming in 2023? A:
and usually conservative and cosmetic
Further evolution and refinement of laser refractive cataract
composite bonding. Sometimes just
surgery will continue to be the major trend for our practice in
some well-placed composite bonding can
2023. Our recent work linking the Cassini Ambient and Johnson
significantly enhance a smile.
& Johnson CATALYS was very successful. It allowed refractive
cataract surgeons worldwide to achieve new levels of accuracy and Q: What trend or trends do you see
precision in treating astigmatism during cataract surgery. For 2023 coming in 2023? A: More and more
we will continue that trend by collaborating with Cassini and a new offices are going digital with not only their
microscope manufacturer. The immediate goal is to link the Cassini x-ray technique but for oral impressions as
Ambient to a novel heads-up-display microscope to dramatically well. And with some specialized software,
improve visualization and guidance in the surgical suite. The 3D printing of things like temporary crowns
ultimate goal is to optimize surgical outcomes to allow better vision and bridges and many other things can be
and greater freedom from glasses for our patients. done in the office.
Q: Are there any new technologies, procedures or treatments Q: Are there any new techniques,
you are excited about? A: Yes, the newly FDA-approved procedures or treatments that you
Lumenis OptiLight has proven to be a beneficial and efficient are excited about? A: It’s an exciting
means to help many of our dry eye patients. Dry eye disease is time in dentistry right now. Technology is
truly an epidemic. Due to our digital devices, cosmetics, nutrition, advancing quickly. More and more materials
elective medications and procedures, environment, lifestyle and are being FDA approved to use with the
societal challenges, nearly 50 million Americans suffer daily from 3D printing process, which is constantly
dry eye disease. The result is a vicious cycle of poor tear film expanding what we can offer to patients,
quality accompanied by increased ocular surface inflammation, improving comfort, precision and quality.
damage and sensory abnormalities. Our patients with dry eye
EXPERT ADVICE I would have to say that
disease often experience fluctuating poor vision, significant
many, many people would benefit from
irritation and tremendous frustration. We at Bishop Eye utilize
wearing a mouth guard. Wearing a bite
extensive diagnostics, thorough counseling and numerous
guard when sleeping is a great idea and/
therapeutic modalities to alleviate the symptoms and treat the
or other times when one can identify they
underlying causes of dry eye. Fortunately we now have OptiLight
are clenching or grinding their teeth. Some
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy to facilitate breaking the
people know they clench their teeth when
aforementioned inflammatory cycle in a non-invasive procedural
they drive, play golf, study or work at a
manner.
computer. Even an over-the-counter guard
EXPERT ADVICE Be informed and discerning when it comes can protect your smile from the chips and
to healthcare. Modern healthcare is blessed with amazing wear your teeth suffer from active masti-
technologies, an incredible breadth of knowledge and some cation muscles. Custom guards made by
wonderful providers. However, the day-to-day delivery of your dentist can also help relax those tense
care is challenged on so many fronts. There is a great mutual muscles. Wearing a guard will protect
responsibility between the patient and physician to navigate one's investment of their new beautiful
these challenges. Establish rapport and trust with your phy- smile once restored and will also protect
sician and their staff to ensure your best interests are being healthy teeth that need no enhancement
addressed. or restorations to stay that way.
Dr. Trey Bishop is a comprehensive ophthalmologist and is Dr. Bonnie Rothwell is a cosmetic
the founder of Bishop Eye Center. dentist for Rothwell Cosmetic Dentistry.