Anyone seen Dr. Toni Zhong re: Diep?

Dear Mantra,  I had surgery with Dr. Zhong in Sept 2009, we weren't given antiseptic soap or support hose.  I was fitted for support hose when I was admitted, they have a special machine you wear during surgery to keep the blood in your legs pumping while you are lying down and save you from potential blood clots.  Good Luck with your surgery

Dear Cathy, In my very long winded email...I forgot two things, work on your arms prior to going into surgery.  You will be using them exclusively to lift yourself up from the chair and down into it.  You won't be using your abs (hurts too much)....also, you won't be allowed to bend at the waist, so get used to bending your knees to get stuff off of the floor or out of a cupboard....squats, hurts your knees a bit at first, but you'll get stronger very quickly.  I didn't work on these at all before going in...but for the first couple of weeks I was wishing that I had.

Hi Rosemary

I hope you a still recovering well from your surgery.  How are you feeling now?

I am having my bilaterial DIEP Tues May 11, and getting very nervous/excited.  Can you tell me what did you wear for a bra?  How soon after surgery do you wear something?  I am trying to finish up my packing and wondered what to bring.  I still have post mastectomy camisoles that I was going to bring.  Do you like to not have something to tight?

Appreciate your comments.

Take Care

Cathy

Hi, My name is Ann. I just had a Diep Flap surgery with Dr. Zhong on April 1,  2010, last Holy Thursday before Good Friday. Now I am on my  6th week.  Everything is getting better, just a little pain. I am still wearing my abdomen binder. It really helps to reduce the pain since it prevents me using my abdomen muscle.  Dr. Zhong did a very good job, the works looked beautiful.  You are right, she is very sweet, kind, helpful and patient (plus she is good looking, too).  During my 8 days stayed at the hospital, she visited me everyday even though it was a holiday (Good Friday) and weekends, to make sure I was ok.  On my admission day at the hospital, I was giving a pair of support panty hose. I was told it helps to prevent the blood clog and it really did. Most of the time, I was on the bed with the supported panty hose, my leg did not feel numb at all, it helped a lot. The nurse told me that, after this, if possible, wearing that supported panty hose at bed time to prevent the vein show up on your leg and that panty hose is expensive, too.

Oh, talking about the binder for the abdomen, After the surgery, I had one but it was dirty with blood stain.  1 day before I was discharged from the Toronto General Hospital,  the nurse told me that she will order a brand new one for me to bring home, i was very surprised. therefore you make sure that you have the nurse order the right size for you because if it is not the right size, no time to exchange, then you don't have it. When you leave the hospital, that's it.   The nurse only order for patients  when they are about to go home since the binder is very expensive, they don't keep in stock. REMEMBER TO ASK THE NURSE TO ORDER A NEW BINDER FOR YOU, IT IS FREE. YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE 1 BINDER TO BRING HOME, ALSO ASKED THEM TO GIVE YOU EXTRA SOFT COTTON WHICH WEAR INSIDE, WITH THE BINDER TO PREVENT ITCHY.  YOU SHOULD ASK FOR 2 or 3 COTTON PAD, SINCE IT IS RIPPED & GET DIRTY EASILY,  THE NURSE WILL CUT IT FOR YOU (SAME LENGTH AS THE BINDER OTHERWISE YOU WILL FEEL VERY ITCHY BECAUSE THE BINDER MAY TOUCH YOUR SKIN).  SOME NEW NURSES DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THE BINDER GIVING TO PATIENTS. THE NURSE THAT ORDERED THE BINDER FOR ME SAID SHE WORKED ALMOST 18 YEARS. SHE SAID YOU SHOULD ASK THE NURSE FOR THE BINDER. IF YOU DON'T ASK, YOU DON'T HAVE IT. 

 Dr. zhong also told me that right after the surgery, to reduce the scar, don't drink or eat food that has caffein, codine,  ie: tea, coffee, chocolate etc.. while the wound is healing, because it will shrink the tissue and the scar will look bad, therefore for the pain killer, don't drink tylenol 3, instead she gives other pain killer.  Also, massage the scar after 2 weeks of surgery.

If possible, drink Vitamin E capsule every day (if you think you don't eat enough foods that have vitamin E).   When your scar is dry and ready to be treated, you can also use the oil inside the Vitamin E Capsule, put directly on the scar (use the needle to poke a hold on the capsule), it is more concentrate, better, cheaper and more effective on scars than the Vitamin E cream you buy at the drug store.  The home care nurse told me about this, I haven't try on my scar yet and I will try soon, I hope it helps. 

While you are at the hospital, when you can eat, you should start to drink prune Juice (you can buy at the pharmacy on the main floor) at least 1 cup a day , ask the Dr. to order the nurse to give you stool softener when you need it, otherwise the nurse won't give it to you.  the pain killer medicine will cause you constipate and you will suffer a lot with pain.  Believe me, prevent it by drinking prune juice in advance. 

I hope these information may help you a bit. May God Bless you all and good luck to those who will have the surgery soon.

Take care.

Ann.

Hi Rosemary, I just sent you an email, I have a question about the Diep - stage 2.

Thanks.

Ann

Cathy, so glad to hear the surgery went well. I am still a few months away but I feel optimistic when I read stories like yours.

Good afternoon!

I am very new to the Forum but I was searching out information about past patients of Dr.Zhong and came across this forum.  I have read many of your posts about the Diep flap surgery Dr. Z did for you and I found it all very reassuring.  I have met with Dr. Zhong a few times and will be having my diep (double) within the next 6-12 months and wanted to know what I can do to "prepare" for it (lose weight? tone my tummy?)  Do you have any suggestions?  As I haven't read ALL the posts, I apologize if you already answered this for someone else and I haven't seen it.

Thank you for any advice/suggestions you can offer!  This surgery scares me so I want to be fully prepared and in the best health possible when I have it.

Busymom2

Hi All,

After many appointments with Dr Zhong, I have finally decided on the DIEP surgery which I will be having in the next four months.

I am scared, it's a long surgery and I just wondered if you can give me any idea about the recovery and how happy you were with the results.

Mo

Hi this is my first post, and am I ever glad I found you guys.

I will be having my first app't with Dr. Zhong in February, hopefully she will agree to do the diep flap

surgery with breast reduction on my other breast.  Has anyone had their "good" breast augmented at the same time as the reconstruction surgery??   I have a few questions about getting the size equal etc.

 Kathy

I'm sorry if I missed it, but would someone who has had diep surgery, please let me know what is stage 2?  What is involved and how long the recovery from that is??

thanks alot, it really helps us who come after you.

Kathy

Hi Kelben

I haven't been back on this thread for a long time. I had stage 1 DIEP with Dr Zhong and my understanding is that stage 2 with her is not the same as what I have read about stage 2 in places in the states. For example all that is done, I believe, is the making of nipples, but there is not the liposuction that is done at other facilities.

I think the recovery from this is minimal. My understanding is that the nipples are to be covered for a period of 1-2 weeks.

Are you booked to have your surgery with Dr Zhong in February?

Cathy

My consult isn't until Feb.  I am soooo hoping she will augment my left breast at the same time she does the diep on the right.  I am a large DD and I'm 61 years old, and I have had a baby, so I don't need to tell you what my natural breast looks like  

She will be doing my nipples in the spring. I understand it's a 40 minute appointment. I assume I am awake. Do I need to wear any special clothing (don't want blood on my good clothes).

Also, I need to have some fat grafting. Is this an in office procedure. Am I fully awake for this too?

I was fortunate that she had a cancellation so I saw her within a week or two of my initial phone call. Good luck with your appt.

Yay LadyM you have waited a very long time.   I met with Dr. Zhong and I have to lose weight first and I go back to see her in Sept.    I hope I don't have to start my wait all over again from that date.

I am excited for you, keep us posted