Category: Finding A Surgeon

Primary Care; Radiologist; Breast Surgeon; Oncologist; Plastic Surgeon specializing in mircrosurgery

Episode 43: The Drain-Free DIEP Flap Concept

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DIEP flap breast reconstruction most often requires surgical drains for post operative care. Patients often mention to me they are awkward, can become infected at the suture site where they are attached, and are cumbersome to hide under clothing after surgery when going out in public. This is a summary of Episode 43: The Drain-Free DIEP flap Concept as it relates specifically to this type of autologous breast reconstruction. My guest on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast has been in communication with me over the past year in anticipation of his published paper, Are Surgical Drains Needed in DIEP Flap Surgery? The Drain-Free DIEP Flap Concept. Dr. Nanidis and the Motivation for the Drain-Free DIEP Mr. Theo Nanidis, is a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon with the NHS and private practice at The Royal Marsden. He graduated with distinctions from University College London Medical School in 2003 and completed Continue Reading →

Democratization in Microsurgery: The Proximie System

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Democratization is a noun. The meaning of democratization as it pertains to microsurgery is the action of making training and education available through technology, in this case, microsurgery in breast reconstruction. The chosen field of microsurgery requires hours of training and practice. Observing colleagues perform this sophisticated and complex surgery increases their own skill set with the primary goal being improving patient outcomes in breast reconstruction. My guests are going to discuss their cross-continental experience working live in the operating theater practicing democratization in microsurgery using the Proximie System. An Introduction of the Microsurgeons Using the Proximie System I invited back to the DiepCJourney podcast two internationally known microsurgeons. Dr. Joe Dusseldorp practices in Sydney, Australia and is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of surgeons. He has a keen interest in microsurgery and did his training overseas to achieve this status. He is also trained to do robotic Continue Reading →

Education about DIEP Flap: One Simple Rule

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Can we assign one simple rule regarding education about DIEP flap breast reconstruction? Yes, this one simple rule is to listen. This is where it begins. I have learned from patients and surgeons that listening is the first action required to educate. It reveals what is important for patients and what they desire to understand about the process and decision to have DIEP flap. I have learned from surgeons it is important for patients to take the time to listen to surgeons to understand what they can achieve for a patient in a DIEP flap consultation.   My Introduction and Education about DIEP Flap I was a student in April of 2014 during my second diagnosis of breast cancer. In the months following my double mastectomy I did what I now tell others to do. “Do your homework to find the right plastic surgeon”. I listened to all breast reconstruction Continue Reading →

TruSense℠: Restoring Sensation and Wholeness after Breast Cancer Surgery

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Many women are left numb after mastectomy. At PRMA in San Antonio, Texas they have created the term TruSense℠ that refers to restoring sensation and wholeness after breast cancer surgery. I interviewed Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo to learn why this procedure is important to patients. Maintaining Breast Sensation after Breast Cancer Surgery Dr. Chrysopoulo, Dr. C to his patients, points out the good news first. We now have surgical techniques where there are ways of maintaining sensation and even restoring it. There are variations in mastectomy results. The breast surgeon has a lot to do with how much feeling they have after mastectomy. Thus, this is a breast surgeon issue since they are the ones removing the breast gland that contain the nerves that provide feeling. Dr. C points out they do not do it on purpose it is just the way the nerves travel through the breast tissue. There are Continue Reading →

Microsurgery and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction and all it’s Worth

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I chose this topic for my weekly blog after doing a retrospective look at the writing, interviews, podcasts, and connections I have had over the past few years since having my own DIEP flap breast reconstruction. I love talking about DIEP flap. It is sophisticated and intricate surgery requiring great skill and expertise. I often refer to it as a profession of passion. Patients who choose to undergo this surgery spend long, often agonizing hours searching for a microsurgeon to perform their surgery. They spend equally long recovering from surgery. Thus the topic I have chosen to write about this week: Microsurgery and DIEP flap breast reconstruction and all it’s worth. Microsurgery: A Profession of Passion I am so fortunate that microsurgeons share the story of who inspired them to choose microsurgery. It is a glimpse into the human side of their lives and why they chose to do DIEP Continue Reading →

DIEP Flap Reducing Abdominal Wall Complications

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Looking at the analytics on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel I realized this video, DIEP Flap reducing abdominal wall complications with Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo is worthy of a blog summary. For our viewers, some value watching the video while others find it helpful to read the information. Having in a blog will allow you to print it if you feel it will help you at your surgical consult. Speaking to your surgeon about reducing abdominal complications in DIEP flap breast reconstruction is an important part of the conversation. Hernia and Bulging in DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction Dr. C begins our conversation with “Well, you know how I feel about the belly”. I agree and point out the other video we did on the topic, “The Aesthetics of the Belly in DIEP flap Breast Reconstruction”. Dr. C and I like to share these across multiple channels. This video can also be found Continue Reading →

Episode 19: Efficient DIEP Flaps

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DIEP flaps are a type of breast reconstruction using a patient’s own tissue to reconstruct breasts after mastectomy for those affected by breast cancer. DIEP stands for deep inferior epigastric perforators. Epigastric refers to the abdominal area. The underlying tissue and perforators (blood vessels) are disconnected by the microsurgeon from the abdominal area and transplanted to the breast area to create soft, warm, tissue much like the breasts removed during mastectomy. We hope Episode 19: Efficient DIEP Flaps, has piqued your curiosity. Efficient DIEP Flaps Study To do an efficient DIEP flap requires years of training, skill, planning, and a team. My guest, Dr. Nicholas Haddock is one of the Breast Reconstruction Team at UT – Southwestern Department of Plastic Surgery in Dallas, TX. He works with Dr. Sumeet Teotia performing state of the art autologous breast reconstruction in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas. In our discussion we reference the PRS Global Continue Reading →

The Intersection of Research and Decision for Breast Reconstruction

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One day your life is humming along as usual. Work, children, family, friends, school, house cleaning, errands, vacation, cooking, on and on. Then out of nowhere you hear the news that feels like a gut punch. “You have breast cancer.” Perhaps you get genetic test results back and you find out you have a genetic mutation putting you at high risk of getting breast cancer. You are thrust into a new role finding out all you can about your diagnosis. Will I be facing a mastectomy or choose a mastectomy for my treatment? When will the intersection of research and decision for breast reconstruction occur? The Research Process Why am I writing about this? I agonized over this part of my breast cancer diagnosis when I was told my best choice for my long-term survival was a double mastectomy. It was my second diagnosis and now in both breasts vs. Continue Reading →

Function and Management of Breast Reconstruction Drains

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The DiepCJourney Facebook group has members from all over the world. The purpose of the group is to nurture an ongoing learning community with people affected by breast cancer and those who serve breast cancer patients. A request was made to make a video about surgical drains. It is not a favorite part of recover but certainly necessary. I sat down with Dr. Randall Feingold of NYBRA, New York Breast and Reconstruction and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery to discuss the function and management of breast reconstruction drains. Why Drains Are Placed at the Surgical Sites I start off the conversation by sharing my own experience with drains for my double mastectomy and DIEP flap. The general consensus from patients is that drains are not something that anyone likes. I feel when patients understand why they are being used, they become a bit more tolerable, especially knowing they are a short-term part Continue Reading →

A Celebration of 10K Breast Reconstruction Flaps

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On May 21, 2022, I will be back in San Antonio, Texas for a celebration of 10K breast reconstruction flaps. This event is put together by the plastic surgery group who did my DIEP flap surgery in December of 2014. This day holds great significance for me. I am grateful to PRMA for their fantastic efforts and support putting this 10K race together to celebrate the 10K flap surgeries they have performed for those affected by breast cancer. Thank you to the sponsors who are generously supporting this race. Honoring All the Patients Who Have Chosen Flap Surgery The 10K breast reconstruction flaps race is being held in San Antonio. The real honor goes to ladies across the world who have chosen or are planning flap surgery after being affected by breast cancer and losing their breasts to the disease. Over the years since I started my nonprofit organization, DiepCFoundation, Continue Reading →