Looking for Plastic Surgeon in Twin Cities

Leslie I sent you a  pm  (Private Messages)...Find the Link at the top Right

Pam

Hi Leslie,

I live in the Mpls. metro area and had a bilateral mastectomy followed by tissue expander placement last June done by Dr. George Landis.  He, by all accounts, is one of the top physicians in the metro area and has won the "Top Physician in Minneapolis St. Paul" award and has been a runner-up in other years.

 I have always found him to be sensitive to my frame of mind, willing to hear my wishes, kind, thorough, and possessing a good sense of humor.  His work so far (I'm a work in progress) has been very good, and I'm anticipating a great conclusion.  I had radiation on one side, so the plan is to place an implant on the "good side" and do a lat flap procedure on the radiated side--sometime in June or July (or 6 months after completion of radiation).

 If you would like more info, PM me anytime...

Good luck in your search!

 Robyn

Pam,

Did you have the same experience with Dr. Landis that I have so far, or are you leaving his care because of something that went wrong?  I guess I ask because I don't know what symmastia is.

Hi Leslie...... did you find a good plastic surgeon?  I am in Duluth and I am still considering my options here.  I've had a double mastectomy with radiation on my right side.  We have a handful of good plastic surgeons here but I've put off making the appointment to see mine.  I did go in before my mastectomy and spoke with him.  It's all a bit scary.  I know the lat flap is quite involved.

Leslie and Lamuso,

Just to throw something else into the mix - I'm from St. Cloud, and I went to New Orleans for my recon. They have the most experience at this. Experience with these procedures, especially if you go the flap route (I had DIEP), is critical. Don't think your options are limited to the Twin Cities area or even to Minnesota. Lots of ladies have traveled for this, and others from Minnesota. It's very doable. For me, it was an incredibly positive experience.  You'll find plenty of discussion about surgeons and procedures on the breast reconstruction part of this forum.  Here's the website of where I went: http://www.breastcenter.com/welcome/   

Good luck with your research and your final results!

Hi,

I would like to second the recommendation for Tim Schaefer (at Midwest plastic surgery). He did my reconstruction and is meticulous and patient and just all around wonderful. My husband also said that post-mastectomy, Dr. Schaefer spent more time with him to explain everything than did my regular surgeon. Dr. Schaefer's partner, Dr. Ruebeck is also highly regarded and lots of women in the chemo room had him and loved him as well.

HI KTN,

I was diagnosed right around the same time as you (May, 2008), with a 4.9 CM ILC, 3+ nodes, I was going to have a mastectomy with LAT flap reconstruction but a number of things during the mastectomy surgery, led to the thought that I would need rads so Dr. Schaefer and I had agreed up-front, if it looked like I'd need radiation, I wouldn't get the flap procedure, just simple expanders with implants later.  

As it turned out, I didn't need radiation so for awhile I was upset about just having implants after expanders, I had hoped for something more sophisticated - and I really hated the expanders, they were always painful and I hated the way they looked - in clothes or out of clothes.

I had my exchange surgery in March 2009, and  I am sooo happy with the results.  They are soft and comfortable and I frequently forget I have anything foreign inside of me  - they feel great and they look very good. 

 Dr. Schaefer IS cute as can be of course, and that doesn't hurt anything, certainly.

Tifan- Did you get silicone implants??? And are they a special kind?? That's what I am thinking. Dr. Schaeffer said they are the softest but if the thought of silicone would keep me up at night I should do saline. (I think I have bigger issues to worry about!) These expanders with saline are so hard! I'll see him later in May and he'll check out my skin. The radiation ended mid Feb and he said he'd check me every 2 months until he feels the skin is ready for the exchange. He mentioned I would need 2 weeks off work for the surgery but most people only need pain meds the first week. What did you think??? Any helpful hints?

Lamuso- Getting an appt to get checked out can't hurt- rather with Schaeffer or in Duluth. I had radiation to both sides but my skin healed well. There is always a risk to reconstruction after radiation but to me it's worth it. I had a 'skin sparing mast' so there was extra skin to use for expanders. I'm sure they will have options for you too!     Kathy

tifan- thanks for the info! Do you know when the next part happens as far as the nipples and tatooes if you are choosing that too? Early on I was told there that they did the scar tissue for nipples. Some on the boards have said they had procedures with general anesthesia and others said local. I'm wondering if you have more info than me???

Tifan- Thanks for letting me know. It seems some people must have more involved procedures. After all this the easier the better! I just want things to feel completed. I'm not planning to go topless anywhere anyway!! I'll be anxious to hear how things go in June. Where will they do the procedure at??? Thanks!