Anyone seen Dr. Toni Zhong re: Diep?

Kittymama, I chose the CV flap procedure but I believe she also does one where they take skin from elsewhere (think it was the labia). Mine experience with the CV flap is that it was almost painless. She did freeze me beforehand as well as a few times during the procedure but if I had to rate the pain level on a scale of 1 to 10, it would be a 1 (almost painless).

It took 45 minutes .. .  she did one side and her resident did the other.

I can't say if I like the results yet. I'm still bandaged and they will be removed on Wednesday. She keeps you completely bandaged with this large clear bandage over all the ones so that you can shower.  I did have a problem with bleeding and had to go back to the hospital that same night and had a PS resident add 3 more stitches.

Yes, very happy with the implants. She is amazing and in my case, she actually had to use two different size and profile implants to get them to work. So the operation took longer than expected because she spent a lot of time trying different combos of implants to make them symmetrical. I'm not sure all PS are such perfectionists but I'm very happy she is. I do have a few ripples that I will be fixed with fat grafting. They are not very noticeable (infact she pointed them out to me) but I'd still like them fixed.

That must of been disappointing for you to think you were going to wake up finished but had TE instead. But, IMO, I'd rather have a surgeon who switched gears mid surgery than have one who just went ahead with fingers crossed and hoped for the best. I was also part of the study but didn't get chosen for the actual alloderm; just get to fill out a survey every so often.

Every so often I do have doubts and think I should have gone with DIEP. I don't really know if I would have had enough fat for her to do both sides and never asked because I just wanted the easiest route with the shortest recovery period.

I will be sure to provide the nipple-report . . . quite nervous to see what is hidden behind these bandages. I vacillate between; I've been thrilled with everything she's done so far . . . and OMG what will happen if I absolutely hate them. I took a picture of my natural breasts before going in for my mastectomy and just took a peek to see what my real nipples looked like so I'll have a benchmark.

Have you had any fills yet?

Hi Mantra,

Glad to hear how thorough she was during your exchange surgery. I do feel very comfortable with her surgical skills. I have read on this board many stories about awkwardly placed TEs and my TE seems to be placed perfectly. She filled a little bit at surgery. However, my first post surgical appointment with her is not until May 13, which is six weeks post surgery! She will probably do another fill then. This leads to my only complaint, which is that she is very, very busy.



Hope all goes well on Wednesday with the nipple reveal!

I will be having some fat grafting and was told it would be about a 6 month wait because the procedure is done in the OR. My exchange surgery was also about a 6 month wait.

Thanks! Maybe I can squeeze in a January or February half marathon also!! :-)

I am so impatient just to have a schedule that I don't even really care much about what the schedule is. My work happens in 4-month chunks and replacing me is complicated. Looking forward to the veil of mystery being lifted a little when I have my consult!

Kelben, I didn't realize Dr. Lipa is back in Toronto. Someone had recommended her to me but at that time I found out she was working in California and was no longer in Toronto.

I don't think it's a problem at all to ask to have a referral. In fact, my doctor at PMH referred me to two PS so I could meet with both but the other doctor had such a long waiting list that I never went to see him. I do know that someone on this board was having issues with her reconstruction and Dr. Zhong said that if she would like to be referred to another PS, she had no problem with it. I think they are all so busy and none of them are lacking for patients and probably do referrals within their network more often that we think.  

Mantra, that is great! I've never been so excited to hear about a woman's nipples before. This is weird.

Kittymama, I must say that breast cancer certainly brings about a very different type of conversation and all inhibitions are washed away. In a million years I would have never imagined asking DH to take topless photos of me so I could post them on the internet. And I can't ever remember having a discussion about nipples even with my closest and dearest friends . . . yet here I am.

Today I found a website that sells temporary areola tattoos. They are in Toronto.  I'm going to buy some but will wait until everything heals before using them. If anyone is interested, their website is http://www.ibrowsers.ca/temporary-areola.html I emailed them to see if they will mail them to me . . . have no desire to head to Yorkville to buy them. Haven't heard back yet. Has anyone used these?

Hi Suz,   I have seen Dr. Zhong and she wasn't very forthcoming with me either.... in a huge hurry.  I have to lose weight before my surgery, so don't see her again until Sep.   I am hoping that she isn't going to tell me I then have to wait in line for a surgery date,  that could be 8-10 months!  

There was an earlier post that said she saw you again after two weeks... but that must depend on you and how you are doing.  That is a long way for you to travel back and forth, counting your 5 days in hospital that is a long time away from home too.

I agree Suz, they must repeat the same things over and over and to them it becomes so routine.  But to us, it is the first time we are hearing all this and it IS scary and intimidating.  They don't have BC..never have and they don't know how important it is for us to get "normal" again.   I'm not saying that is bad, but geeez if they would just recognize that it is the centre of our lives right now.   

Has anyone had Zhong do their tattoos yet? If so, would you mind if I PM you to ask a question.

Hi Amara,

You will have to have your family doctor refer you.  If you have insight into who you want to go to, then I'm sure your family doc will take that into consideration.  I am going to Toronto from Ottawa and I found a website that directed me to Dr. Zhong (plastic surgeon), so I asked my Ottawa doc to refer me to her, and that is what they did.  Your family doctor might base his/her decision on who to refer you to, based upon how quickly he/she wants you seen relative to the plastic surgeon's wait list.

The decision to get immediate reconstruction is based upon your diagnosis.  The docs will decide.  Or maybe other ladies who have the same diagnosis as you can help with that question :-)  Good luck with everything!

I hope that helps. 

Hi, 

Can anyone please let me know if OHIP covers mastectomy, reconstruction (including nipple, tatoo, etc) radiation, hospital stay, etc.. I am also on Herceptin. Thanks so much!

Amara, I'm in Ontario and OHIP covered my mastectomy, prophylactic mastectomy, hosptial stays, home care visiting nurses, reconstructions, nipples . . . everything. I didn't have radiation but yes, it is covered too. Tattoos are covered if your plastic surgeon is doing the procedure. I'm also having some fat grafting for some ripples and that too is covered. As someone mentioned, this is based on you being a resident of Ontario.

Hello all...I'm waiting a date for a uni mx with immediate diep with Dr. zhong.  

Long story...will try to make it short - I saw her 3 x last summer for consults...was complicated, didnt know if we were doing single, double, or radiation...she was very very patient, spent a lot of time with me and was very accomodating.  Then plans got put on hold because they thought I had moved to stage 4 (possible mets to neck nodes on good side).  But I've been NED since Dec, so now we can go ahead with mx.  

I saw her Monday, after a 2 month wait.  I thought that was a long time, but my oncologist said she just referred someone to her and couldn't get an appointment until December...so she has gotten very very busy.

She expects I can get in for my date within 12 weeks...but she said any delayed reconstructions are a 9 - 12 month wait. ouch.  

Both she and Dr Hofer with whom she works are very very busy...I attended a fundraiser a couple of weeks ago where they are trying to raise funds to have a nurse practioner to guide patients through the process...a fantastic idea, as its all so ovewhelming!

 Pam