Category: Plastic Surgery

Breast Reconstruction Results, Should we Compare Photos?

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Breast reconstruction results, should we compare photos? This is a perplexing question in the world of plastic surgery for those affected by breast cancer. However, I see this question asked several times a week. I want to share my thoughts and why I feel it continues to be a topic I think breast cancer patients should give careful consideration to. When I lost my breast to breast cancer and began searching for a microsurgeon to perform my DIEP flap, I used their public website as a resource. It was full of information I needed to prepare for and understand the surgery I was about to have, DIEP flap, using my own tissue to rebuild my breasts. Seven months before my DIEP flap breast reconstruction, I had a skin sparing, nipple sparing mastectomy after a second breast cancer diagnosis. Those seven months were psychologically difficult for me. Twelve years previous to Continue Reading →

Wonder and Happiness: Pregnancy Post-DIEP – Part 2

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Emily is one of over 5,700 global members of the DiepCJourney Facebook group. I am honored to share her story of wonder and happiness: pregnancy post-DIEP – Part 2. More than a year later, I am finally prepared to reflect on the full experience of having a child after DIEP flap reconstruction. To recap, I am BRCA1+ and had a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction in June 2018 at the age of 36 and phase 2 corrective surgery with fat grafting in October 2018. I became pregnant with my 2nd child in April 2019 which left me wondering. At 38, after a full-term pregnancy with no complications, I was induced and delivered a healthy 7-pound 4-ounce baby girl on December 18, 2019, exactly one week after her sister’s 9th birthday. I wondered whether pregnancy would mess up my surgeon’s beautiful work. I am happy to report to all of Continue Reading →

Lost Breast Sensation after Mastectomy Restored 10 Years Later

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Tara begins by telling us the painful story of losing her mother to breast cancer when she was only eighteen. In an ironic twist of fate, Tara’s mother lost her own mother, Tara’s grandmother, from breast cancer at the same age. Having experienced this, she describes it as a “dark cycle that would just keep happening”. This is Tara’s story of lost breast sensation after mastectomy restored 10 years later. With other family members who had a cancer diagnosis, Tara was encouraged to have genetic testing by her then partner. She had no idea at the time what having genetic testing would actually mean and how it would change her life if she tested positive. When the results came back that she was in fact a carrier of a BRCA gene mutation, she went to see a surgeon to discuss what her options were. She was given two options. She Continue Reading →

Benefits of Delayed DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction after Radiation

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I take the opportunity to interview Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo of PRMA about the benefits of delayed DIEP flap breast reconstruction after radiation. It is always a pleasure to have him on the DiepCFoundation Channel to educate others about topics for those affected by breast cancer. What are the Effects of Radiation? Dr. C begins by explaining radiation often creates significant changes. Radiation is recommended to decrease the risk of breast cancer coming back locally in the chest area. He points out there is some data to suggest it can improve survival. For these two reasons alone, it is a very important part of breast cancer treatment to discuss with your health care team. Techniques have improved in recent years in radiation, both the kind of radiation and how radiation radiation is administered for treating breast cancer. However, like many treatments for cancer, there are still side effects. Will the side Continue Reading →

Dealing with the Aftermath of Breast Cancer and Surgery

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There is no instruction book for this. You are diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening disease. Yes, I know, our survivor rates and treatment have both improved over the years. But what those years mean to a person going through treatment or healing from surgery has an entirely different meaning. It is a difficult Journey dealing with the aftermath of breast cancer and surgery. Dealing with Breast Cancer Emotions Take a bag of rocks, all different sizes, colors, and shapes. Put them in a box and shake them. Shake them loud and hard. It is sometimes the internal noise, like shaking this bag of rocks, that gets to you after a breast cancer diagnosis and surgery. Anger, fear, unknowns, disbelief, shame, guilt. There is your bag of rocks. You feel all of these emotions, sometimes more. Were you equipped to deal with this? Did you expect this to happen in your Continue Reading →

Preguntas Contestadas Sobre la Reconstrucción Mamaria

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Questions Answered About Breast Reconstruction Spanish Traslation by Dra. Macarena Vizcay It is my honor to present a collaborative effort with Macarena Vizcay, M.D. and Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, MD FACS. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Vizcay for reaching out to me to provide this Spanish translation of my interview with Dr. Chrysopoulo. Estoy encantado de trabajar con la Dra. Macarena Vizcay, residente de cirugía plástica y PRS Global Open Resident Ambassador, para tener un resumen en español del video anexado en este blog donde el Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo y yo respondemos preguntas sobre la reconstrucción mamaria.  La cirugía de reconstrucción mamaria con tejido autólogo es un hito muy importante en las pacientes con mastectomía, pero este es un proceso que requiere más de un procedimiento. Muchas veces se ha hablado de las fases previas y de la fase 1, pero el postoperatorio entre las fases es importante y también Continue Reading →

Shared Decision-Making Is Your Surgeon Practicing it, and Why Should You Care?

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By Terri Coutee and Minas Chrysopoulo, MD FACS I feel very passionate about opportunities to educate others on the topic of shared decision-making. Shared decision-making is when the patient and physician work as collaborative partners in deciding a treatment plan that is best for the patient. After recording a ZOOM interview with Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo recently, the topic came up as it often does. Dr. C said to me, “Let’s write about it together.” It took no time for me to agree to co-author this blog! What Shared Decision-Making is NOT… As a patient advocate for all options of breast reconstruction, I have the opportunity to speak to others who are planning or recovering from all types of reconstruction. I ask if they felt fully engaged in their decision process for their reconstruction. It is apparent to me that they were NOT when they tell me they were not even Continue Reading →

What Inspired You to Choose Plastic Surgery? A Father’s Day Tribute

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I have interviewed a number of notable plastic surgeons on the DiepC Foundation YouTube channel about topics related to breast reconstruction. This interview evokes a special, more personal feeling. I interviewed my own reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, for this special Father’s Day Tribute. He discusses the reason, inspiration, and why he chose plastic surgery. It was time spent with his father watching the history of plastic surgery on “the tellie” growing up as a young boy in London. His profession in life has truly become his passion and it is evident as the video conversation unfolds. What inspired you to choose plastic surgery? A Father’s Day Tribute. The History of Microsurgery Imagine a young lad spending time with his dad, “a massive history buff”, as Dr. C says, watching World War I and World War II programs. It was their bonding time. He points out plastic surgical procedures Continue Reading →

Is Age a Factor in Breast Reconstruction?

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You might be surprised to hear the answer to this question and how those who have been through or are waiting for reconstruction feel about this. I tackled the question with a notable microsurgeon from MedStar Georgetown Health, Dr. David Song. I also reached out to the Facebook group, DiepCJourney, and asked them, is age a factor in breast reconstruction? Chronological Age is not the Strong Consideration Dr Song explains, chronological age is not the strong consideration in breast reconstruction, especially autologous (using your own tissue) reconstruction. The more important factor is overall health and body habitus. Amazingly, Dr. Song tells us the youngest patient he performed a DIEP flap on was 20, and the oldest was 89! Surprisingly, the 89-year-old when home post-op, day one. This woman was in otherwise good health. However, is important to talk to your breast reconstruction surgeon about heart, lung, or kidney issues to Continue Reading →

What are the Surgical Stages of Breast Reconstruction?

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A question frequently asked in the breast reconstruction community for those planning any type of breast reconstruction is, what are the surgical stages of breast reconstruction? I reached out to the experts to do a video. Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo of PRMA answers the question. I summarize the conversation with Dr. C in this blog. You can watch the entirety of the conversation in the at the end. Dr. C begins with a very important statement, “Breast reconstruction should really be considered a process rather than as one procedure. For most people it is going to take more than one surgery to get the best results.” Breast Reconstruction: Stage 1 It is preferable to have both the mastectomy and reconstruction done at the same time, known as immediate reconstruction. This often yields better results because there is less scarring and looks more natural. Sometimes, because of the diagnosis, stage of the Continue Reading →