DIEP Ontario
Hi,
Just wondering if anybody knows of surgeons who perform the DIEP procedure in Toronto or north of Toronto? (of course, only "good" surgeons!!)
Thanks
Comments
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Dr.chong and dr. Hofer from Toronto general hospital.
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Thank you!
Did you have good results?
How was your experience?
My surgeon is in Barrie and she didn't mention the DIEP... I'm not sure if they offer it there... Will have to ask
How is your abdominal incision?
Thanks! -
Sorry, I didn't have surgery yet, because i'm doing chemo now. The surgery needS preform 6weeks after chemo done. My BS told me she will arrange my mastectomy and reconstruction around mid or end of Nov. My case is complicate. I didn't get clear margin after 2 surgeries. So I need third one. I request BMX. I went to consultation with dr.hofer last Thursday. he offers diep at same surgery.
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Honestly I'm scared about that long scar on my abdominal. If you want know more info about diep. search member name: goldining. Pm her. She did diep with dr. Hofer and gave me lots useful info.
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I had a Diep done Sept. 2008 by Dr. Brian Evans at University Hospital in London, Ontario. He is a wonderful plastic surgeon. I had a haematoma in the grafted breast and it required dressing afterward for the time I was on chemo. I am pleased with the reconstructed breast after it all. It is a good match in size and shape to my natural one. The only drawback to this procedure is the long gnarly scar on your lower abdomen. Chemo tends to put weight on you and you put on fat above the scar, so there is this bigger stomach above the scar which can seem like a ledge. If I had it to do over again, I would wait until the chemo is done before having the reconstruction. It would be much easier for your body to heal then. Then I would probably go for a saline implant (never silicone!). The less invasion of body tissues, the better. Since the surgery and chemo, I have put on two sizes and am struggling to lose some weight, especially around that middle, just to get into size 14 stretchy jeans. Good luck with whatever you choose to do!
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I have been offered a DIEP by Dr A Hassa in Barrie on my left side after a mastectomy I will also require a reduction on the left side, 8 hour operation.I have been told I will feel as if I was hit by a truck !! Trying to decide if it will be work the pain and the long recovery..........
I would like to speak to anyone who has had the procedure done. Especially if Dr Hassa did the surgery. I am concerened about the scarring especially the abdomninal one. Would like to know more about the recovery time and if anyone would go through the operation again or would they opt for the saline bag?
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Would love to hear responses about Dr Hassa as I have an upcoming appointment with her as well!
Thanks -
I don't know about Dr. Hassa however if you are still at the 'finding a PS' stage, another doctor to consider is Dr. Joan Lipa at Sunnybrook. I had her for my reconstruction back when she was at University Health Network. I decided to go with an implant rather than a GAP (I didn't have enough tummy fat for the DIEP) but she does all the techniques. She's amazing.
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Dr. Lipa is on Mat Leave and will return in September
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I had muscle-sparing free tram (was supposed to be diep but ps had to change plan once he opened me up) in London with Dr. Ross. The first week or two is rough, but I have no regrets about having it done. My results are beautiful. I had no infection or other serious complications, and I am looking forward to having his team do nipple reconstruction after rads.
I knew that my chest and belly would be sore. What I didn't expect was how sore my back would be from hunching over. The sooner you can get yourself standing straight up, the less your back will hurt. I only used about 1/3 of my pain pills so it wasn't excruciating. Taxol and Neupogen chemo pain was worse for me than pain from surgery after I came home.
Sleeping in the recliner was best since it is hard to get out of bed for a couple weeks, and in the beginning I needed help getting the footrest down. You will need help in the shower too since you aren't allowed to reach over your head to wash your hair. Check to make sure that you have so done to stay with you round the click once you are home for the first ten days or so at least. Also check to make sure CCAC is available in your area. It wasn't available where I live, so my husband took a week off to help, and then we had friends cooking and cleaning until I was able. I just remembered too, if your hair is long, go to the salon and get them to put it in tight French braids enforce you go to the hospital. You won't be allowed to shower for a few days, and keeping it up made it a lot less greasy.
Good luck with your decision. If I can help with any other questions I can help with, please let me know. Might take a couple days to get back to you, just had my last chemo so will be in a fog for awhile. -
1cb I am now 4 weeks out of surgery for diep. Dr Zhong was my PS. I am finally starting to feel normal . Still a little sore on the new boobs , tummy not too bad and I can sort of sleep on my sides now. My emotional state is off these days. A friend put it very well , she said that I have been so concentrated on healing the physical that my emotional has been ignored. I think my boobs are ok , it feels like a frankenboob but I know in time it will be fine. My tummy scar is huge but not horrible and I now get what others are saying about the dog ears at ends and a large roll above the scar. I will probably do the tattooing for nipples but right now where they are suppose to go are not symetrical so not sure how it will work. Hopefully there is still alot of swelling to go down and things will change. BrownwinJul I am wondering if you have heard about stage 2 , as far as the doctor is concerned I will only get tattooing but so many in the US talk about evening things out and other little surgerys to make it all work. Do they do that here? My first apt after surgery was last thurs and I only saw the intern which I wasn't very happy about. Feel a little pushed aside right now. Doubt it would happen in the US.
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Geralyn ... I seem to be a few months ahead of you as Dr Zhong did my DIEP in December and 3 weeks ago I had my "stage 2" but nobody seemed to call it by that name. When Dr Zhong created the new boob it was about 2 cup sizes smaller than my existing non-cancer boob. My procedure in March was a reduction on the one side and a nipple creation on the new one. In my case, I had enough areola that she was able to harvest some from the non-cancer side and create a new nipple for the foob. I wasn't sure what to think of the procedure but it turned out better than I thought it would.
At the time, she did indicate that if my abdominal scar needed any revisions that she would do it at the same time as the reduction. Luckily everything healed up well and nothing more was needed. You are correct, over the next few weeks you will find that the new foob will settle down and it will most likely be closer than you think.
I also feel like I have been pushed aside as well or at least a part of an assembly line. At my last post-surgical appointment I waited 2 hrs and was only seen briefly by one of the residents. She does good work but I think she has now become way too busy. -
Yes the wait was long and saw the resident. I do think her work is good but ....... I don't appreciate if she is too busy to see me personally. I have a few questions about nipples and such. I was not able to save anything for harvest and will probably tattoo but want more info and had 15 min and then told -- see you in 3 months. I am a freelancer and apts that are far away are very hard for me. I realize that I cant do much before that but I don't know just felt I needed more attention for a first visit after surgery. I have many more questions now and need answers.
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I had my DIEP surgery with Dr Evans in London on Sept 11th/2012. Still have not had any nipple reconstruction done. He told me I need to wait more for the swelling to reduce and that was in Jan 2013. I will see him again in August. How long after everyone's surgery was the nipple reconstruction done? Also how long did you wait to have a mammogram. My left breast was reduced and had diep on the left. Is a mammogram done on both breasts?
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Diane31 that seems a long time ago. I was told to come back in 3 months to check and discuss nipple work. When you have a masectomy and recon you never need another mamo again on the breast that was done. I did both so that is a big plus to not have to ever do mamogram again.
Today I have had very strong sharp pains on left side on my tummy. Not sure what it is. Maybe just healing pains.
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I too had my surgery with Dr Zhong - ( immediate skin sparing mastectomy and single diep). First surgery August 2011 and nipple/reduction Jan 2012. Still need to go back for some adjustments and nipple tattoo....haven't gotten around to it (plus she was off on mat leave most of 2012). very happy with breast, not so happy with what it has done to my waist - I have the "bullfrog belly" or "mushroom"...so much worse than a muffin top. My pants are always falling down! I am hoping that when I get back to see her she has some tips...also trying to get back in shape (weight and fitness)...hope that helps.
Anyone with questions ask away!
P
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yes pamdo I think the boobs will be ok , much better symmetry than I had. the nipple placement seems off but so much can happen later when tattos are done, I guess. The belly is a bit weird and I am hoping the ears at each end can be taken away. My tummy is much flatter though. I will just have to wait and see how it all settles in and heals.
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Pamdo, I totally understood what u mean about bullfrog belly. I have exactly same. I look likes pregnant ... I was hoping my tummy will look better when time goes by. Now I doubt it. My pants always falling down too. Also I look bigger than before somehow. But what can we do, at least my incision didn't give me too much trouble. I complained to 3 different dr.Hofer's fellows. They all answered same, give time and do exercise. Well I never got see Dr.Hofer after surgery. Always fellow or residents.
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Pamdo if you get answers from Zhong let me know. jjl I hate that the residents and not the doctor come in for out apts. I actually told the secretary that I was not pleased and I understand that she is busy and has alot of patients to see but for my first visit after surgery i did expect to see her. When you make next apt make mention that you want to see your doctor and secretary can make it happen.
In the states the girls all seems to get stage 2 adjustments to fix belly and breast symetry. We can get breast adjustments but not belly. If you want that fixed you have to pay out of pocket. I can barely pay for my mortgage and groceries so the belly will have to be what it is. I hope there are exercises to help. Cheers to all of you. We have got this far!!
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Geralyn/jjl....I hear ya about seeing the residents, that's all I see most times as well. I will ask to see Dr Zhong next appointment for sure. I did pay out of pocket for lipo at stage 2...forgot to tell you that - $5000! looks good on my dog ears at the side, but the uppper updominal no change. Truly a waste of money.
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Wow,I was thinking about do lipo for updominal in future. Now I need reconsider. Dr.hofer's residents never told me I need pay for dog ears. They said they will fix that if I want, but I don't think I really need it. It's very tiny anyway...
Try massage your tummy with bio oil. I'm doing that every night when I watch tv. About a hour or longer every night. that workout well for me. My tummy look better in the morning. But bullfrog belly come back after dinner every night. Lol.... Well, hopefully we all look better when our tummy settle.
Good luck -
pamdo that is good to know . I can't afford the 5000. and I am sorry that it was a watse for you but thank you for telling us. So far the dog ear is worst on right side so I do hope zhong will do something when the time comes. I will try and relax about it all and let the tummy settle. I know it will take time. Defn will do an oil when incision heals. Jjl when did you start? As they state , the tummy is not really the doctors concern, its all about the boob job.
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I start to use bio oil about 2weeks ago. I met another plastic surgeon's secretary when I took my mom to see her gynaecology. They share office. I saw they have a sign to recommend patients use bio oil. So I started to talk to her. She said I can use bio oil ASAP when my incision closed. Because its mild. So I need massage 3-4 times a day... Anyway I didn't really follow, I did massage once a day. more than a hour. My scars look very light after almost 10 weeks post surgery and tummy is much soft now. But Up abdominal still big like pregnant.
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I will try that thanks jjl.
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I've had appointment with dr. Hassa in Barrie. She hasn't been here very long. She trained under dr. Amanda fortin, who was one of the first Ontario surgeons to do DIEP. They both trained with the Centre for Excellence in Winnipeg, where this procedure was pioneered. I was originally scheduled to have DIEP in London in 2009. One month before surgery I found a recurrence. Since then have had radiation and profalactic mx on left side. Have not been happy since both sides are so different. I am scheduled for DIEP in Barrie first part of July. I am scared and excited at the same time! This has been quite a journey. Yesterday was the 6 year anniversary of my original mx. My how time flies. Hope to hear more from those of you who have been through it!
Cheers.
Sherry -
sherry35 you will love the bilateral diep. I call them franken boobs but the symetry is great and they are much better than I had. My tummy is ok . It is flatter but I am afraid I am already adding to it. Wish I didn't love to eat. Hopefully in time the scar, bloating and strange bulges will go down. After 5 weeks I feel pretty good.
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Geralyn: u will feel even better later. Scar will fade out by the time. For sure the bloating will go down.
I shouldn't complain my tummy before. I was too impatient. my updominal changed dramatically in last few days. It's look much flat now, I don't think I need lipo, finallyI don't look likes pregnant anymore... It's pretty mazing. I needs say thanks to Dr. Hofer. He did very good job.
I highly recommend him to our Ontario sisters. He worths me to wait. -
CMcS and 1cb. I had diep with DRS Hassa and Hanrahan jan 12 my boob is now starting to look more natural. No nipple yet, but the scarringonthe breat mound is hardly noticeable. The abdominal one on the other hand is ugly. I wish I had gone implants instead. I wanted to but felt pressured to go this route by drs.
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shianne29 Yes the ab scar is pretty ugly but it will fade in time and I am much happier with using my own body then implants . so many women have had trouble with implants and they do need replacing in time. sounds like you have great boobs though!!
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Thanks geralyn.... The boobs look good lol. Waiting till next winter for more sx (nipples and revisions) do they do fat grafting to even out the girls?
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