silicone breast implants

debsie1

silicone breast implants

debsie1

Hi Girls;

Anyone from the Montreal area have reconstruction with Dr. Zelt? I have seen him twice for consultations and am seriously considering havong silicone breast implants this winter....any thoughts???

YoYo44

Hi,

I am just starting this whole process and would appreciate feed back from folks too.  The only name I have so far is Dr. Dionisopolous (sp) but I an just trying to get a consult.

A related question I have, does anyone do DIEP reconstruction in Montreal?

Yo

debsie1

Hi YoYo44;

 I did meet with Dr. Dionisopolous last year but to be honest I did not have much confidence in him. I know that Dr. Zelt specializes with breast reconstruction and I do beleive that he does DIEP recon.aswell. You must have a referal to see him if you are a b.c.patient as it will be covered by medicare...........something noone ever told me about. I was prepared to pay the $8000.00 and was shocked when Dr. Zelt told me that it was all covered by medicare. I do know that they do DIEP at the Montreal General or the Royal Vic.....what are you planning on having done?

YoYo44

Hi Debsie,

At this point I don't really know for sure.  I think it will be a BMX and I am not crazy about implants with surgery every 10-20 years to replace (I am 44 and planning to be here until I am 80!).  That is why I am thinking about the DIEP. But the major surgery is also intimidating, not to mention the expertise required.  TRAM sounds iffy, might need those stocmache muscles!

Where is Dr. Zelt?  And you say he specialises in recontstruction?  Maybe I will need to see him too, but later.  Right now I am trying to get a consult with Dr.D so I can be certain I want to do the BMX.  I had hoped to have immediate reconstruction but I think that hope is fading fast.

thanks and good luck.

Yo

debsie1

Hi..Dr Zelt is located on Sherbrooke Corner Guy in the same building as the Ville Marie Breast Center. Have you had any luck getting an appointment with Dr. D?  I am seriously considering doing this surgery this winter although I ust admit I am very nervous about it all. One day its Yes I'm going for it and the next day it's maybe I should just leave things alone. I am not cray about being put under again and I really would not be happy with any complications. Let me know what your thinking of doing. Take care....

YoYo44

Hi Debsie,

I got a consult with Dr. D for this Tuesday.  Will keep you posted.

Take care,

Yo

debsie1

Good luck and let me know how it goes

marie111

Hi Guys !

I had a consult for BMX with DR. Schwarz at the MGH. I liked him alot. I am considering Nipple sparring BMX with implants in January. I may however try to see Dr. Zelt for a 2nd opinion. I am surprised I was not referred to him directly as my surgeon works out of Ville Marie (Dr. Otaki)

Hope this helps. Hope you are doing well.

Good Luck.

Marie

debsie1

Hi Marie;

Nice to hear from you......Do you know what Dr. Schwarz's first name is...as there are 2 plastic surgeons with the same name in mtl. Where did you have your surgery/treatment???? I don't really understand what a BMX is so maybe when you have a few moments you can enlighten me....thank you so much...take good care..........

kerkle

HI, I am a patient of Dr. Karl Schwarz at the MGH. He is THE BEST out there. I had a consult with Dr. Dianisopoulis and in my opinion, he does not have the same expertise in Breast reconstruction as Dr. Schwarz. Dr. S is young, but his specialty is breasts and he is amazing! I had a BMX (bilateral mastectomy) in May, my surgeon was Dr. Fleiszer at RVH and Dr. S was there to put in "expanders" at the same time. I will have my exchange surgery, to silicone implants, in a few months. I reccomend Dr. S highly, it is worth every second of your time to see him at the MGH. Good luck and feel free to ask me dozens of questions!!

marie111

Hi,

Debsie1: Dr. Schwarz;s first name is Karl. I have not yet had by surgery but will most likely have a Nipple sparring bilateral Mastectomy (BMX) in January.

kerkle: I am glad to hear you are very satisfied with Dr. S 's work. I felt very confident after meeting him.  As you said he is young and I think that is a positive as young doctors are more cutting edge and esthetics are still very important to them.  He seemed very competent and knowledgeable.  He recomended a nipple sparring mastectomy for me with implants.  What procedure did you have done ? How do the expanders feel ? Is it as bad as some make out to be ??

Thanks,

Marie

kerkle

Hi Marie,

I had a skin sparing, bilateral mastectomy on May 20th. Dr Fleiszer at the RVH did this part, who is your breast surgeon?  The expanders were extrememly uncomfortable at first (2 months around) but I have now gotten very used to him and they do not bother me at all. They are not nearly as bad as I have heard people say on this site.They of course took time to get used to, but now I do all activites, I play tennis and I live my life as usual with no discomfort. I will be going for my exchange in the Spring (I had radiation so I have to wait 6 months for the exchange) and all I can say id Dr. Shcwarz and his staff have been just amazing throughout all these months. 

debsie1

Hello...maybe you girls could help me sort something out....are the expanders used only for woman who had BMX?  I had a lumpectomy over 3 years ago but the nipple is a bit inverted and I am smaller on the bc side than the healthy side so it was to my understanding that I was basically only a candidate for implants......when you get your implants do they do both sides aswell??? also do you know if medicare will pay for us to have yearly MRI's for better detection???? I feel as though there is noone on this site that had a lumpectopmy and then went on to have silicone implants....without expanders...............help!!!

kerkle

Expanders are used to stretch the muscle and the skin for women who have had mastectomies. The muscle is then used to cover the implant as there is no breast tissue to do this. At a second surgery, the expanders are removed and a silicone (or saline) implant is then put in the same place, where a "pocket" was created from the expanders. I can't imagine why you would need an expander if you have breasts. An implant can always be put in, like any other woman that would want to increase breast size. You would only need to do both sides if your mastectomy were bilateral or in your case debsie1, if you needed to even things out a bit, then different size implants per breast. About the MRI, if your hospital requests it, then it is automatically on medicare. What do you mean by "will Medicare pay for it"?. 

debsie1

Thank you so much Kerkle for the explanation Now I understand what the difference is for lumpectomy patients and masectomy patients in terms of reconstruction. I beleive that I must convince my dr to request MRI as it is not standard procedure and therfore would ordinarily not be covered on medicare. Have you yourself heard of Dr. Zelt? He does regular implants but specializes in woman with bc. For the last 3 years I was not ready to even think about reconstrucion but now I think that I should do it...I just wish that I wasn't so scared. I really do not want to deal with any possible complications but on the other hand I really do want to feel good again about my body.I think that I will call the office and just book a date for february...............again thank you so much.....

kerkle

I have never heard of Dr.Zelt. Is he a Plastic Surgeon or a Breast surgeon. If you are thinking of "reconstruction" does that mean you want to have a mastectomy? As I understand it, you have breasts, you had a lumpectomy, correct? There is no "reconstruction" with breasts. Have you had a mastectomy consult? I'm a little confused, sorry!

debsie1

1. Sorry for confusing you......I was told that surgery done after a lumpectomy is still considered reconstruction (implants,lifts etc) Dr. Zelt is a plastic surgeon who happens to specialize in woman whom have had breast cancer. My breast surgeon was Dr. Margolese at the Jewish who performed the lumpectomy. Do you think there is a forum on here for people like me?????

kerkle

debsie1- I understand now. There are so many different discussion groups here, I am sure you can find one for people like yourself that have had lumpectomies and are now looking for implants and liftsor you can start one yourself. I have never heard of your Dr. but I am sure if he specializes in breast reconstruction, you can't go wrong. I know Dr. Margolese very well, he was my mother's doctor 25 yrs ago and is a family friend. Great doctor. Good luck! If you have more quetions, feel free to ask.

blog

Hi. This is not Montreal related, more general. Please consider the info on my protect yourself page. www.surgery.com.co   Take photographs and proper measurements and documentation before having surgery.