Dr's. Kenneth R. Lee & Richard Klien

If you are going to travel- I understand that NOLA (New Orleans LA) has some of the best and most insurance savvy practitioners in the country.  You might as well go there. The website is breastcenter.com  They are known as the Center for Reconstructive Breast Surgery. Dr Frank DellaCroce and his team.

That said, did you research the other types of reconstruction?  The different types can take varying amounts of time in surgery, from 2 to 12 hours or more.  Do you know why you want the DIEP surgery?

Charleston would be closer, if your family could meet you there. Dr. Massey does great work there, as does Dr. Allen. Plus, you may be able to get a room at the Hope Lodge which is almost right across the street. It's run by the ACS, and it's free. But you have to apply and get on the waiting list.

Someone also told me about ways you could get your plane ticket covered, and darn it I can't remember the group but it's something like Mercy Medical Airlift--google that and see what happens.

There are lots of options with great surgeons. Expect a big workup for anesthesia clearance before anyone takes this on, though. That's a long time to be under anesthesia...

Best of luck!

Anne

I live in Orlando and I consulted with Dr. Klein last fall at MD Anderson for immediate DIEP flap reconstruction. At that time he said he had done about 130 DIEP flaps with a 10% failure rate. The failure rate was unacceptable to me. He also said that he could only make me a B-cup. I was a full C-cup at the time. He also would not provide me with pictures of work.

After a few more months of consultations with other Florida docs, I found Dr. Scott Sullivan in New Orleans. At my consultation, Dr. Sullivan recommended hip flap instead of DIEP flap based on my body type.He and his partner, Dr. Delacroce have done 1000's of flap reconstructions with a less than 1% failure rate.   I had a bilateral skin sparing, nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate hip flap reconstruction 6 weeks ago. I am thrilled with the results. I am a small D now and Dr. Sullivan said I will love my new breasts even more after the revisions at Stage 2.

I cannot say enough about how thrilled I am with Dr. Sullivan, his staff and the new surgical center where I had my surgery.    

Compare experience and compare outcomes, (meet with patients in person if possible, or ask for photos)  because along with being very technically challenging, the flap surgeries require quite a lot of artistry to achieve the best aesthetic results.   If a surgeon tells you he can't show any photos due to HIPAA concerns, find another surgeon who has no shortage of happy patients willing to share their results with you. 

Dr. DellaCroce and Dr. Sullivan do DIEP or GAP as a team, drastically shortening the time under anesthesia.   I didn't have my first surgery with them, but luckily I found them when I needed help with a complication, and had my reconstruction completed in New Orleans with Dr. DellaCroce.  I have an amazing outcome now and have had women ask me if I had nipple-sparing surgery even though I did not.

Susan, I was just reading your note and cant help but comment. I am an OR nurse currently working for a medical device company that uses a novel new technology called SPY. If you are having reconstruction surgery, this device checks the blood flow in your new breast flap before you leave the OR table, so your chances of flap failure are greatly decreased.  I have personally worked with Dr Massey, Dr Craigie and Dr Klein at East Cooper Regional Med Center in Mt Pleasant, SC ( charleston). The nurses there are great too.  I have worked with a lot of different plastic surgeons and I think they are fabulous AND also use our device. I wouldnt want any of my family to have the surgery without the "SPY". It is very safe and adds only a couple minutes to the procedure; for great results, its totally worth the time.  Dr Craigie uses it on all his flaps. The Mayo in Orlando is getting it too, but it may be several weeks before they sign the papers.  The name of the company is called Novadaq Technologies.

It sounds like the communications from the Charleston group were not great on the start, but they truly have a great program.  We also have a device at the Cleveland Clinic outside of Ft Lauderdale and the plastic surgeons there are great too. Their names are Dr Samson and Dr Newman. Good luck, If I can be of any help, dont hesitate to ask.

Jeeves

Just wanted to clear up some confusing references in this topic. Dr. Lee and Dr. Klein are at MD Anderson in Orlando. There is no Mayo Clinic in Orlando. The only Mayo Clinic in Florida is in Jacksonville.

Dr. Massey worked with Craiggie and Kline at both Roper Hospital and Mt. Pleasant, same as Dr. Allen. But Dr. Massey is leaving Charleston and going to New Orleans.

Anne

Are you sure Dr. Massey is going to New Orleans?  I thought she was going to spend most of her time in Chicago.

Dr. Massey is definitely going to New Orleans. But according to her website, it looks like Charleston is still in the mix. She has the utmost respect for Drs. Kline and Cragie.

And, it looks like she'll still be working out of Chicago and Utah, too. What a busy woman. I want some of her frequent flier miles!

Anne

I had a diep  flap done by Dr Lee and Klein in Orlando and have been very pleased with the results.  I ended up having to have chemo which has prolonged the final phases of my reconstruction but that hopefully will be next month....one year since my diagnosis.

 DIEP always carries with it a small chance of complications, even in NOLA.  Dr. Lee has always been available to answer any questions I have, even requesting another doctor to call me regarding a problem I was having unrelated to my BC.

There is no doubt that NOLA is among the best in the country, but I would not hesitate to recommend Dr. Lee and Klein.

Dr. Lee is also my surgeon. I would highly recommend both Dr. Lee & Dr. Klein. Both are very skilled, and very responsive to the needs of their patients. Their nurse and PA always make themselves available and is extremely helpful. I did a little research, and I believe the national average for failure is actually closer to 10%, so I believe Drs. Lee & Klein and doing a great job. I am so glad they are in Orlando!

Brewer2 and Coco54.

 I will be getting a DIEP by Dr. Lee and Dr. Klein in Orlando comes April 2013. My TE was infected at the end of my 33 radiations ( after 14 chemo which took 6 months ), both  TE were removed and DIEP reconstruction was recommended without TE replacement. I have scars that build up and is hard on my chest, I wonder how this will affect my end result. Any words of encouragement or suggestion?

Alice

Interesting and thank you for sharing.  I'm seeing Dr. Klein tomorrow.  MD Anderson is no longer in Orlando but ALL the doctors and surgeons stayed, as did Dr. Klein and Dr. Lee.