Need very talented NYC Plastic Surgeon

femme

Need very talented NYC Plastic Surgeon

femme

Some of you may remember my saga with a very failed alloderm 1 step reconstruction 2.5 years ago. Tthe doctor who did my surgery was from Weil Cornel. Ultimately everything was removed by another doctor and a skin graft to close me up was necessary.  

I am going to try for another reconstruction.  I personally need some semblance of breasts. (I know this is my issue and not necessarily universal).  I would like recommendations of NYC doctors, plastic surgeons, who are brilliant , talented and compassionate and likely to do well with my case. I am not interested in doctors at Weill Cornell or Memorial. 

sherrie12

I am using Dr. Robert Allen, he pioneered the diep flap but also does all kinds of reconstuction and from everything I hear, he is amazing.  My surgery is in November but I'm sure someone else who has already used him will recommend him.  He splits his time between Charleston S.C. and New York, NY (in NY every other month).  He used to also practice in NOLA.  His website is deipflap.com.  He also has an associate Dr. Levine who is in NY all the time.  When are you planning surgery??  I can update you after I have mine and let you know how it went.

NancyD

OK, I'm going to reccommend my PS, Mark Smith at Beth Israel. I love the work he did...my delayed bilat DIEP is about as good as it gets, short of the unavoidable scars. They are warm, squishy, and have a very lovely shape. 

As far as compassionate goes: He is not under my insurance, but accepted the amount they would pay for out-of-network (very nice!). And I know he does charity work on children in third world countries as his surgical schedules are arranged to accomodate his trips.

Of course, I've heard only good things about Drs. Allen and Levine, too. I don'tthink you could go wrong with any of them.

nagem

I'm breast free, but I looked into reconstruction pretty thoroughly four years ago. I have seen the work of Joe Disa at Memorial (he did a friend's breasts, DIEP), and I thought it was spectacular. I know you don't want MSK, but just thought I'd mention it. Mihye Choi at NYU is good too (she did another friend's breasts, also DIEP). 

happy29

Dr Robert Allen. He is amazing

tweetybird

Not sure if you have access to a car or not, but I used Dr. Dwight Derisi for my lumpectomy. He's located in Great Neck (Long Island). There's not enough words out there to say how great he is. I haven't used him, but the plastic surgeon that works with him is Dr. Allen Shones.

Dr. Derisi works out of North Shore hospital in Manhasset and Glen Cove. He also works out of St. Francis in Roslyn/Port Washington.

I know that Dr. Shones is the chief of reconstruction surgery at North Shore in Glen Cove. I'm not sure if he's affiliated with Manhansset or St. Francis.

If you decide to use them, and don't have a car, you can take the LIRR out of Penn Station, to the Great Neck station and grab a cab to their office. They're on Northern Blvd.

Basia

If you are willing to travel to LI, I am using Dr Feingold in Great Neck.  Love him and his staff. I had BMX with immediate implants a month ago and look great.

Annabella58

If you would consider SW Ct (an hour from NYC), Dr. David Passaretti, of Aesthetic Surgery in Darien, Ct.

He took on the biggest challenge with my lumpectomized, radiated boob from 10 years ago and worked miracles.  Add to that he is the kindest man out there. 

PM me for details, if you want to look him up, or google Aesthetic surgery in Darien, CT and his website will come up. 

....I call him the Michaelangelo of Foobs.  I had interns coming in day and night and marvelling at what he had been able to accomplish.

femme

I can't tell you women how happy, close to tears, I am to be getting such quick responses to my request.  I have been taking a long time to get back into  reconstruction action. Now I am feeling that an end to my mutilated chest is perhaps a possibility.  Please keep giving me names of talented people, even if already cited.  I plan to interview several surgeons, and if one is vetted by several of you, that will help me in the decision process.

Annabella58

Femme, you are not mutilated.  You are "under construction" my dear.

Another winner:  Dr. Alexandra Heerdt, MSK breast surgeon.  Amazingly compassionate and lovely lady.  I consulted her re: a prophylactic mtxmy and she was so kind and very, very clear and helpful.

baybeach100

Don't forget to think about Dr Ron Israeli, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Great Neck. The best!

capqueen

Hi

I have used both Dr. Ahn and Dr. Allen in NY.  (assistants have been LoTempio and Chen).  Have been very very happy with both, but they have very different styles.   You may feel much more comfortable with one.

whippetmom

femme:  Do you know if you are a candidate for a DIEP or latissimus dorsi or other autologous procedure?  Are you willing to consider this or would you prefer a tissue expander to implant-based surgery?  Because I honestly feel that you should choose your PS based on the type of work he or she specializes in.  I know some pretty talented DIEP docs but I know at least one of them I would never go to for just implants.  I have some names of NY docs, if you want to PM me and I could help you sort of ferret out where it is you want to go with your reconstruction plans.

Deborah

swimangel72

I second Dr. Israeli in Great Neck (close to North Shore Univ Hospital)........he's an artist (literally - he studied sculpture) - he's also very compassionate - unlike some other Diep surgeons (like my original PS) - he knows how to shape tissue to make it look and feel like a real breast.........he's not in any insurance plans..........but will take whatever is given to out-of-network doctors. His staff is wonderful, especially his nurse Bella.........she is extremely knowledgeable especially about drains! Good luck and God bless!

femme

If this helps get me to the right doctor, I am not interested in any procedure but tissue expanders.  I have had enough surgery on my poor little departed breasts.  And it is because I have lost so much tissue and skin to the surgeries (necrosis and a skin graft to close me up) I need a doctor who can use whatever is left, efficiently and arttfully...So  it is only implants that I am willing to do..

hope123108

Capqueen

I am considering a diep with Ahn/Allen in November could you provide me with anymore details. Or explanation of what you had one.  I am just so uncertain.

Have a great day!

Hope

happy29

Forget Dr Allen if you want implants- I dont think he even does them

 sorry and good luck with your reconstruction

capqueen

Hi Hope

I agree with happy29, if you want implants not sure Allen or Ahn are your best bets.  But for a diep I think you would be very happy with either.  I think that if you're really not sure what you want, you may get more time and a more lengthy discussion of all possibilities with Ahn.  I was pretty sure what I wanted when I went to Allen.  I used Allen for my TUG and Ahn for microfat transfers to add volume to the TUG.  Happy to give you any details if you want.  Just send my a PM

chinablue

femme - Why won't you go with a ps at memorial sloan in nyc?  I am having my stage II (diep) done in Dec. at memorial.

eileen22

I used Dr. Mihye Choi for reconstruction surgery right after my masectemy and she did a great job. I had a saline implant.  Dr. Choi's office is 305 E 47th Street.  Hope this helps.

femme

I am not interested in Memorial because they are known for being conservative. 2 years ago a PS there expressed a disinclination to do implants, and my issues require somebody with the ability to think outside  of the box.

What hospital is Dr Choi at, Eileen? 

Annabella58

Femme, again I heartily reccomend Dr. Passaretti; he thinks completely outside of the box and if he can literally create a larger breast for me, with necrosis and all, I think he'd be your guy.  I did have a lattismus dorsi flap technique, as there wasn't much breast tissue left.  We left the tissue as the "shell" and the muscle flap ( I lost no strength, as he is a spectacular microsurgeon) was never even noticed as being gone, strength wise.  For scars from this I have a thin white line under my arm and that's it.  He loves a challenge and has quite the rep as a "wunderkind" of PS.

I know you are looking in NYC, but he's only an hour away or 50 minutes from NYC straight to Dairen.

Good luck to you,whatever you decide on (or not)

xoxo

Annabella58

Femme, I should clarify, because of the nature of what I was left with, and the need to indeed "think outside the box" I had to do a lattisimus AND a TE and an implant.  Slow and steady with expanders won the race as I had so much scar tissue.  It took a long time with the TE but it was soooo worth it.

He even gives out "goodie bags" to help;  with post op, little pillows, handmade by lady patients, and helpful things to go the hospital with you and help you to remember you are a feminine lady, and this is just a hurdle in the road back.

Good luck my dear.

eileen22

Dr. Mihye Choi is associated with NYU Medical Center.

femme

Next week I am planning to make appointments with several of the drs suggested.  I will let everyone know how it goes.  It is comforting to know that there are women who have gone through similar difficulties and who are interested in my outcome. It makes it all less lonely and frightening.

femme

One of the drs that I decided to see is Dr Ron Israeli.  Could someone who has seen him, PM me with her name so I can tell his nurse who recommended him to me.

dmoh

I saw Dr. Israeli a few weeks ago.  He's wonderful, so kind and even had me in touch with one of his former patients before I left the office!  I just told him that I'd seen him mentioned favorably on breastcancer.org and googled him, checked him out on vitals.com, etc.  He was happy to know he's got such great reviews everywhere.  I have a tentative scheduled DIEP with him for May 11th, though he said he could do it in Jan., I need to wait towards the end of the school year as I'm a teacher and don't want to miss a whole lot of the school year, been there, done that twice already...

Amadori

Dr Andrew Salzberg, located in Westchester, New York.  He works with Dr. Ashakari and the two of them are well known for the one step alloderm process.  Women travel from around the world to use them. They did two of my girlfriends and they look amazing...my surgery was Thursday and so far I think my results are pretty good.

femme

I have decided on seeing 3 of the drs mentioned; those who do implants.  I will keep everyone posted.  It would be so wonderful if I could get some semblance of a woman's chest back.  I know it is what I need now. When medical mistakes were being made, I just wanted not to die.  I guess I'm fine tuning now, I am glad I'm alive but also need a curvy shape. It took me a long time to come to this place. This week is the week I will make consultation appointments

Annabella58

Best of luck to you, Femme in your decision making.  You sound like you are ready to tackle this and I so admire your strength, courage and clear headedness. 

I know it will all go well for you. 

xoxo