Hidradenitis Surgical Specialists

06/04/2026

Living with HS can feel incredibly isolating. Many patients spend years feeling misunderstood, unheard, or like no one truly gets what they’re going through.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve quietly started something important: connecting patients with others who have lived through similar experiences.

Because support doesn’t only come from providers. Sometimes it comes from hearing, “I’ve been there too.”

As part of HS Awareness Week, we wanted to share that we’re actively building our Patient Ambassador Program to create more opportunities for connection, shared experiences, and support within the HS community.

More to come later this month 💜

06/03/2026

HS is more than skin deep.

Behind every flare, there can be pain, frustration, isolation, and moments that others never see.

Many people living with HS spend years searching for answers while trying to navigate symptoms that affect far more than their skin.

This HS Awareness Week, we’re recognizing the experiences that often go unseen and reminding everyone living with HS: your experience matters.

What do you wish people understood about living with HS?

05/29/2026

“What limitations are you living with right now?”

That’s one of the first questions Dr. Louis asks patients living with HS.

Every patient’s experience is different, which means treatment conversations should be too. Understanding symptoms, goals, and quality of life helps guide what options may still be available, medically, surgically, or both.

Every patient deserves a conversation about what’s possible. 🤍

05/22/2026

Patients with HS hear “there’s nothing we can do” far too often.

That’s exactly why Dr. Louis chose to specialize in treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa. These patients deserve more than temporary fixes; they deserve real support, real solutions, and a care team that truly understands how challenging this disease can be.

One of the things we hear most often is relief. Relief that someone is finally willing to listen, help, and take on these difficult cases.

“We’re here to help them.” 🤍

*Consultation coverage varies by insurance plan.

05/13/2026

It’s not “just a boil” if it keeps coming back.

Many people deal with painful lumps in the same areas for years, thinking it’s just a recurring infection.

Creams, antibiotics… same cycle, no real solution.

But when it keeps happening in the underarms, groin, or under the breasts, it may be something else.

This is often how Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is missed.

HS is a chronic inflammatory condition that follows a pattern: same areas, repeat flare-ups, ongoing cycle.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

At Thrive, we offer fast HS evaluations across Texas and Kansas.

05/09/2026

Most people don’t expect this to change after HS surgery…
But for our patients, it does.

“I can sit comfortably again.”

For someone living with Hidradenitis suppurativa, that sentence can mean everything.

Our patients didn’t just talk about surgery; they talked about getting life back.

walking their dogs again
sleeping on either side
sitting without thinking about pain first
saying yes to work without worrying about what their body can handle

One patient shared:

“Every aspect of my life has changed. I don’t have any limitations.”

At Thrive Reconstructive Surgery, these are the stories that matter most.

We care for patients across:

📍 Fort Worth, Texas
800 8th Avenue, Suite 206
Fort Worth, TX 76104

📍 Denton, Texas
2817 S. Mayhill Road, Suite 220
Denton, TX 76208

📍 Plano, Texas
4001 W. 15th Street, Suite 480
Plano, TX 75093

📍 Wichita, Kansas
551 N. Hillside Street, Suite 550
Wichita, KS 67214

If HS has changed your everyday life… what’s one thing you’d want back?

02/25/2026

For years, Shawn lived with swellings all over his body, cycling through emergency rooms and doctor after doctor without lasting relief. That all changed when he found Dr. Rivet at Thrive Reconstructive Surgery.

After his surgery in February 2024, Shawn says it simply "changed my life."

The areas where he had recurring Hidradenitis Suppurativa? Completely gone.

If you or someone you love has been living with HS and feeling like there's no solution, Shawn's story is proof that the right care makes all the difference. 💙

📍 We serve patients across Texas & Kansas.
👉 Link in bio to schedule a consultation.

02/18/2026

If you've been living with painful, recurring skin lesions and no real answers, you're not alone. 💙

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is one of the most underdiagnosed and misunderstood conditions in medicine. Many patients spend years in pain, cycling through treatments that don’t work, before they ever hear the words “HS.”

Led by Dr. Max Pekarev, the surgical team at Thrive Reconstructive Surgery is working to change that.

HS isn’t just a skin condition. It affects every part of your life. Your confidence. Your relationships. Your ability to move through the day without pain. For the right candidates, reconstructive surgery can be truly life-changing.

This is why we exist. This is what we do.

✨ Welcome to Thrive, where we specialize in HS treatment and complex reconstructive surgery, and where your quality of life is always the priority.

If you or someone you love has been struggling with HS, we’re here to help. Book a consultation through the link in our bio.

02/02/2026

🔬 Exciting News for the HS Community!

New research from our team is helping us better understand hidradenitis suppurativa at a deeper level, literally!

Dr. Pekarev and our clinical team just published a study looking at the bacteria found deep within HS lesions in patients with advanced (stage III) disease who needed surgery.

Why does this matter to you?

For years, most research focused only on bacteria on the skin's surface. This study looked deeper at the tissue that surgeons actually treat during surgery. What we found could help us choose better antibiotics for each patient based on their specific health conditions.

We discovered that certain bacterial patterns are associated with diabetes and recent steroid use, which means your medical history is important when planning your treatment.

This is the kind of research that drives better, more personalized care for HS patients. Every study brings us closer to understanding this complex condition and improving outcomes for our community.

💙 To everyone living with HS: Your courage inspires us to keep researching, learning, and advancing care.

Learn more about the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41580621/

The subcutaneous microbiome in stage III HS remains poorly characterized due to the historical focus on surface lesions and non-surgical populations. Our findings highlight distinct microbial profiles within deep tissue that are influenced by comorbidities and steroid use. Plastic and reconstructive...