Breast Reconstruction surgeons in Pittsburgh, PA

Kathleen -

My plastic surgeon, James O'Toole, MD (did my direct to implant) told me that if I needed any microsurgical reconstruction using my own tissue in the future, he recommended I go to Dr. GImbel (UPMC-Magee) as he is "the best".  I am thin so I don't have a lot of tissue to work with and would have to go to the microsurgical route.   Not sure of your stature??  But, I also know Dr. Fred Heckler or Michael White at AGH are good.  I've heard good things about Dr. De La Cruz too, who is in the same group as Dr. Gimbel.  There are a few Pittsburgh ladies on this forum who have used surgeons in this UPMC group.......maybe they will respond to you and give you better information.  Good luck! 

Oh, I've heard good things about Francis Johns too.  I think he is out of Forbes.

Dr. Gimbel is the best.  He's done several of us here.  He's the most meticulous man.....did his residency at the breast center at UCLA.  He's a genius, pure and simple.  Had my surgery in February - have a perfect breast and not a twinge of pain.  Saw him yesterday for consult with stage 2.  He sat there and listened to what I wanted.

Kathleen, who did you get for you recon what did you have, flap or implant?

I didn't see this thread until today. Never knew there were some good old hometown Burgh gals around to compare notes with. Hi Sadie! What a coincidence we went to the same surgeon, PS, Dr. Gimbel.

Everyone in that Plastics group is well versed in Microsurgical techniques and I believe Dr. Gimbel performs the Alloderm direct implant. I do not know the details as I was not interested in implants. I do not know about nipple sparing with the PS or BS MDs as I was not a conadidate for that due to the positioning of my disease process. I had my right side reconstructed and Dr. Gimbel created amazing contour and symmetry with my good side and in one surgery. He was also able to create a nipple by sharing from my good nipple on the left side.

The aesthetician "Cookie" just did my areola tatto and I am so happy with my end result. She is a total sweetie too and has good things to say about all of the physicians.

There are quite a few Nurses who have specifically used Dr. Gimbel. But as I said this group specializes in reconstruction techniques. We are very fortunate to have this kind of talent in our town. I never knew until I had to go through this process. .

I did not go to the breast surgeons at Magee though there are so many good physicians there as well. Gimbel does surgery at Shadyside as well as Magee and my Surgical oncologist was Dr. Rubin. He really is one of the best in the area and very invested in all of his patients. His Collaborative practice nurse is very efficient with coordinating appointments and care.

have recently switched mecial oncologist and now go to the group at Magee as I was going to a suburban practice and needed a second opinion about taking Tamoxifen. good luck tgilbert and feel free to message me if you would like

Hi there - Probably too late to chime in on this thread but I am a Pittsburgh gal too.  I used Dr. Jim O'Toole, for direct to implant one year ago.  This type of surgery is often called oncoplastic breast surgery.  I saw two other PS in the area....one at AGH and one at UPMC and they "pooh-pooed" the idea.     Dr. O'Toole's office is in Shadyside but he works out of West Penn, AGH, and Shadyside Hospital.   By the way, I do remember him telling me that the best guy for microsurgical procedures is Dr. Gimbel, if I had needed that type of surgery! 

So glad you are happy with your MDs and results Tammy. YEAH! Two people I know  have Dr Ahrendt as their BS and one will have delayed recon with Dr, Nguyen. Very happy you could have NSMX. I did not qualify for a NS MX as the disease process was too close to the nipple/areola complex. I have said it before and now agin...we are very fortunate to have such talent in the burgh.

I am all done except for a touch up on my areola tat. Gimbel and I agreed to as little surgery as possible. I had immediate recon with my MX, then had the nipple created in late November. I will see him sometime in May when I have my Tat done. Probably my last visit with him. Do you need to follow with a medical onc for adjuvant therapy or was surgery the final step in your process. (your tag line indicates DCIS-didn't know if it was pure dcis or if anything unexpected came up on your final path)

tgilbert.

May I ask if you currently have a gyne doc? Why do you need a hyster?

I have heard alot of nice things about all of the PS docs in this group...much of the time it comes down to personal preference, what your recon goals are and who you click with.

I do not know McAuliff.

I originally had a second opinion appt with McGuire at Magee, but cancelled it when my MRI turned up some funky business on my opposite side and my first opinion SO wanted to see me the day I had my second appt. I really liked him anyway so I stuck with Dr. Rubin at Shadyside who in turn recommended Dr. Gimbel. I didn't even like Gimbel at first meet and was going to bail, but kept the second appt and it all came together. They are both perfectionist and I like that about both of them.

Even though I was at another hospital, I know much of the staff on 5800 at Magee, where most of the breast cases go and they are a wonderful group of men and women.

Will be keeping you in my thoughts TG.

Oh Tammy,  The big old abdominal incision can be daunting but it improves with time.

I had an infection in my abdominal JP. Then I had a suture make it's way out. Things that can happen with this type of abdominal surgery. I am doing little silcone pads to the stick of my breast incision to help it fade and decrease in size. Seems to be helping a bit. Otherwise the breast incision is fading quite nicely. I am looking into the larger abdominal silcone applications. I wanted to try the smaller ones first before I invested such money into a larger one. I have to look the company up again, but spoke with an online rep and the abdominal "belt" last for the full recommended treatment

I actually walked 126 miles in august, the month after surgery. It is very do-able and especially so when you are at least moderately active, IMHO.

Tammy, you play tennis I take it. My BIL was on he HS tennis team and now his daughter, my fab niece is interested in this sport. Do You teach at all?

@Tgilbert - Dr. De La Cruz is going to do a direct to implant for you???!!   That's great!  She gave me various reasons why she didn't prefer direct to implant (at least for me) back in December 2011.  but it all worked out in the end and I ended up having it done by Dr. O"Toole, who did an awesome job.  Going in for tattoos this month and then a little fat injection to smooth things out in May.  Best of luck to all you ladies....we are very fortunate to have so many choices for our healthcare in this city!  Happy Spring....Yay for sunshine! 

No Tammy I do not play tennis. I am a miserable golfer as well and actually decided to give it up since I am often plagued by an old rotator cuff problem and my dominant arm is my Mx side.

My sis and BIL live east of the city.

Wild, glad you did not compromise your recon goals and are happy with your results.

Must have been nice to do a direct implant as opposed to months of fills then another surgery.

I think the silcone sheet has improved my breast scar. Not that it was all that bad, but the 'stick' appears less red and raised.

I had a little spot that was a very slight dimple and this too seems to have improved.

going to do 2 more weeks of the little sheets and see how it looks. (I take pictures to track my progrss)

have a wonderful day all.

@Tgilbert-  Great to hear!!  When is your surgery??     My breast surgeon (out of AGH) works with Dr. O'Toole all the time, in fact, he referred me to him, so it was an easy decision.   All of your follow-up appointments will be with your plastic surgeon, not your breast surgeon, so that is something to think about too?    I have only seen my breast surgeon once since my surgery, which was over one year ago!   I am sure everything will work out just fine, and before you know it, you will be on the road to recovery!!.  Please keep us posted on how things are go!

@ sandpiper1, will not Dr. Gimbel do the scar revision for you? Dr. Nguyen said he can make my ab-incision line looks like the ones on my breasts, which are very smooth. Right now my ab-incision is very uneven due to the re-opening of it.

I hear you, sandpiper1, that's what my sister elected, unilateral. I went bilateral because I really hate mammos. I would have been surgery fatigue too if I had three surgeries in less than 6 months. Good luck with the silicone sheets and if it does not work out, you can always do something down the road. I have a appt at 3-months post op. Do you think that is about the time I should discuss the next step with ps?

Hello ladies,

I had a nipple sparing unilateral mastectomy 25 days ago performed by Dr Kandace McGuire at Magee. (My original choice of surgeon was Dr Rubin at Hillman, but it was he who recommended Dr McGuire for the NSMX.) I had immediate DIEP reconstruction by Dr Gimbel. He was referred by both surgical oncologists and is a perfectionist. He doesn't have the greatest bedside manner. (Originally he refused to perform the procedure but changed his mind after speaking with the Dr McGuire.)

My abdominal incision is healing nicely, but I am extremely tight. The drain sites hurt the worst even though they're out. My breast is not very pretty. It kinda "folded up" and the inframmamary scar makes me feel like half the boob is in my armpit. I had lots of bruising around the nipple and serious scabbing. The black parts are sloughing off and the nipple is nice and pink underneath, if somewhat flattened. I know it is way to soon to think about "fixing" anything, but I am both happy to still have "my breast" and sad that it looks and feels so alien.

Sandpiper1, walking 126 miles a month post op is amazing. I was a very active and fit person before the BS DX, even so I can't imagine walking that far. I'm still slightly hunched while upright and I get tired very quickly, even after the silly PT exercises.

Anyhow there are surgeons in Pittsburgh who are able to perform the latest breast cancer & reconstruction options. You have to be very proactive and ask lots of questions.