Stewards of Christ Shelters Young Men Transitioning Out of Foster Care

In keeping with his commitment to the overall health and wellness of young people, physician Dr. Paul Drago is a board member of Stewards of Christ, an organization devoted to the youth and young adults of Mecklenburg County, South Carolina.

In Mecklenburg County, homelessness and drug dependency are persistent problems among the youth population. Stewards of Christ aims to relieve this community’s young people of the potentially lifelong burdens of disadvantage and mistreatment in their formative years. One of the organization’s chief aims is to ease the transition from foster care to independent living. The Mecklenburg County Department of Youth and Family Services reports that 12 to 36 percent of young people transitioning out of the foster care system experience homelessness. Stewards of Christ offers shelter to adult males between the ages of 18 and 23, regardless of creed, color, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Short-term, long-term, and extended care may be available depending on the circumstances. For more information, please visit www.stewardsofchrist.org.

Dr. Paul Drago on The Recent Emergence of Anti-Aging Medicine

A Fellow of Facial Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery at Louisiana State University Medical Center, Dr. Paul Drago is certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Academy of ENT Allergy, among others. Dr. Paul Drago is also an experienced researcher, and has authored or co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed papers and is a frequent guest lecturer. One recent presentation was given at a meeting of the NFL Retired Players Association in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was entitled “Anti-Aging, New Therapies.”

As the baby boomer generation has approached the age of retirement, there has been an increasing amount of interest in preventative approaches or medical therapies likely to increase the longevity or the quality of life of an aging populace. This has led to the emergence of a specialty now known as regenerative, or anti-aging, medicine. In general, anti-aging medicine is best defined as a healthcare model that utilizes ongoing research and innovative science in any manner that promotes longevity, vitality, and quality of life. Presently deemed the fastest growing medical specialty in the world, anti-aging medicine focuses on the prevention, early detection, and abatement of age-related diseases and disorders.

Presentations from Dr. Paul Drago

In addition to more than two decades of medical experience, Barnwell County, South Carolina’s Dr. Paul Drago possesses a background in areas of medicine ranging from acute trauma to long-term care to otolaryngology. Outside of his practice, Dr. Drago has given numerous presentations over the course of his career.

In 2007, he spoke to the NFL Retired Players Association in Charlotte, North Carolina, about new anti-aging therapies. The year before, he spoke before the Ballantyne Breakfast Club and appeared on Radio 107.9 to discuss the same topic. He has also given numerous more technical lectures. In 2003, he spoke on pediatric infectious diseases before Rock Hill, South Carolina’s York Nurse Practitioners. During the same year, he spoke on sinusitis and allergy, nasal steroids, and pediatric infectious diseases. Dr. Drago’s other presentations include “Evaluating the Potential Malpractice case—What to Look For” and “Hair Removal and Photofacial with the PPX Laser.”

Dr. Paul Drago: What is Thermage™ Skin Rejuvenation?

Paul Drago, MD, is an eye-nose-throat doctor (otolaryngologist) based in Columbia, South Carolina, who has worked in preventative care, anti-aging, and plastic surgery for over 15 years. While a research fellow at Louisiana State University (LSU) in the late 1990s, Dr. Paul Drago conducted studies and promoted the science of skin rejuvenation, a field that he continues to actively study today.

Thermage™ skin rejuvenation is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved, patented technology to activate the natural skin renewal process in the human body. Thermage technology applies heat energy to deep skin tissue to activate collagen and then cools it quickly to seal it in for a healthy, smooth skin appearance. Certified medical practitioners use a Thermage wand, a device that vibrates the skin at a cool temperature, heats the skin quickly, zaps the affected skin area with a radiofrequency energy beam, and finally cools the skin to complete the process.

Since his work at LSU, Dr. Paul Drago has furthered his education in plastic surgery, continuing to learn and train in the latest surgical techniques. Dr. Drago is certified in PPx treatment for hair removal and photofacials, hair replacement techniques, skin cancer and reconstruction surgeries, fat grafting, breast augmentation, Thermage skin rejuvenation, and much more.

Dr. Paul Drago: The Basics of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

With more than 15 years of experience as an otolaryngologist, Dr. Paul Drago serves as a physician for the South Carolina Department of Corrections. In this capacity, he treats an underserved population for conditions of the ear, nose, and throat, as well as promoting general wellness. During his internship and residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Dr. Paul Drago undertook significant research on squamous cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma results from the unrestrained growth of abnormal cells in the squamous layer of the skin. This cancer of the upper layers of the epidermis looks like warts or scaly patches. Caused by accumulated exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun, squamous cell carcinoma develops on the skin, the hollow organs, or the mucous membranes; typically, it appears on parts of the body that are most often exposed to sun.

Doctors in the United States diagnose approximately 700,000 cases of squamous cell carcinoma each year. Although it can be disfiguring or even deadly if left unchecked, squamous cell carcinoma usually responds well to treatment. Most often, physicians employ Mohs micrographic surgery to eradicate the disease. This method involves the use a curette or scalpel to remove the visible tumor and minute layers of skin until no cancerous cells are evident.

Dr. Paul Drago Discusses Best Ways to Treat Allergies

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America reports that nearly 50 million people in the United States – which equates to 1 in 5 Americans – suffer from some type of allergy, whether it is an allergy to food, indoor/outdoor, or insects, or an allergy that affects the skin or eyes. Dr. Paul Drago, an Otolaryngologist and Fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngologic Allergy, has been treating patients who suffer from allergies for nearly 25 years. Here he discusses the best ways to treat this condition.

Avoiding Allergens – One of the best ways to prevent allergies from flaring up is for individuals to avoid the allergens to which they are allergic. This may include pollen, dust, certain foods, or trees and grasses.

Immunotherapy – Immunotherapy, or allergy shots, is often used when avoiding allergens or taking medication does not work. With immunotherapy, a patient is given higher doses of the allergens to which they are allergic, and over time they eventually become less sensitive to the allergens. This treatment is usually most effective for individuals who are allergic to animals, insect stings, or suffer from hay fever.

Medication – There are different medications that can be prescribed for allergies, with decongestants and antihistamines being the most common. Other medications include corticosteroid nasal sprays, oral corticosteroids, and cromolyn sodium.

Dr. Paul Drago is board certified in Otolaryngology by the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery and the American Academy of ENT Allergy.