Anyone had Diep done by dr. Lipa

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raluca63
raluca63 Member Posts: 20
Hello sisters,

I would like to know if any of you had DIEP reconstruction done by dr. Joan Lipa at PMH in Toronto and if yes, are pleased with the results ?
I had MRM at the end of September, now I am doing radiation and I am looking forward to having reconstruction next year. I have an appointment with dr. Lipa in January and I would like to know if she does good jobs.
Thank you so much for anyone who will answer my question.

Regards,

Calipso

Comments

  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2006
    I'm with Dr. Lipa, however I didn't qualify for a DIEP because I don't have enough tummy fat. During my first couple of appointments with Dr. Lipa, she was very thorough in discussing the options. Based on how much body fat I have and where it's located, she concluded that the only option I had, other than an implant, was an I-GAP. I decided I didn't want that and went with the implant instead.

    So I can't vouch for Dr. Lipa's results with a DIEP but I can say that she's great. I am very pleased with my results with the implant and was completely happy with Dr. Lipa and everyone on her team. Be aware that because TGH is a teaching hospital, Dr. Lipa always has a resident with her and sometimes has a med student (but she asks first if it's okay for the med student to come in.)
  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2006
    Hi Beesie,

    Thanks a lot for your answer. I know I have more than enough tummy fat,so I would probably be a good candidate for DIEP. How long did you have to wait until you had the surgery (from the date of your first appointment with dr. Lipa)?
    Many thanks again,
    Calipso
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2006
    I had my initial reconstruction done at the same time as my mastectomy, so I was able to jump the queue because that's considered urgent surgery. Still, it took about 6 weeks to get a surgery date that worked for both my surgeon and Dr. Lipa, since they had to be there together.

    My replacement surgery, when the expander was removed and the implant put in, wasn't considered urgent and I was warned that I might have to wait up to about 4 months to get a surgery date with Dr. Lipa. As it turned out, I was scheduled in for surgery about 6 weeks after the earliest possible date that I could have had that surgery, so it wasn't too bad.

    One factor that works against you from a scheduling standpoint is that DIEP is a very long surgery; mine was just a couple of hours so it was easier to fit in. I believe that Dr. Lipa gets one surgery day a week at TGH, and a DIEP might take up the better part of a whole day. That could really delay the scheduling. But then I don't think it would be any different with any other surgeon.

    Good luck and let me know how it goes with your appointment.
  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2006
    Hi Beesie,

    Thanks for taking your time and giving me such a detailed answer. It is much appreciated. I am sorry for the delay in my replay, but I've been through rough times lateley due to an infected area along my scar during radiation. I will send you a PM.

    Thanks againg and Happy Holidays !

    Calipso
  • JulieK
    JulieK Member Posts: 3
    edited December 2006
    I did, she was excellent. Originally I had a consult with Dr. Brown... then waited another ~ 6 mos for a consult with Dr. Lipa (he only did the TRAM and I wanted the DIEP). I had mine in ~ June 2005... one hell of a surgery but the results are totally amazing. Dr. Lipa is amazing too. I see that Dr. Marla Shapiro, Libby Znaimer, etc have been her patient as well... I truly think she is one of the most respected reconstruction surgeons around.

    Good luck, Julie
  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2006
    Hi Julie,

    Thanks a lot for your response. I will send you a PM, as I have another few questions for you (if you don't mind answering).

    Regards,

    Calipso
  • bonnie_vanisland
    bonnie_vanisland Member Posts: 12
    edited December 2006
    I live in Victoria BC and called Dr. Lipa's office to get an appointment. They told me there is a two year wait for a consultation and then another year for the surgery. Why can't more surgeons in Canada learn how to do the DIEP????
    It's so frustrating.
  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited December 2006
    Oh,Bonnie I am so sorry to hear that...sounds incredible. I asked myself too why Canada does not have DIEP plastic surgeons,but I can not find an answer. Maybe because you are out of province it takes so long, but it's a shame, you came here long way from Victoria.
    As for me, it took 3 months to get a consult with her,but because my surgeon works in the same hospital and he referred me to her,maybe it's another situation. I also need the surgeon to be there when I have my recon surgery, as I want a prophylactic mastectomy on my left side.
    What is it your decision now? Please keep me informed, I would like to help you, but I only can give you some info if you need it.
    Best luck and Happy Holidays !

    calipso
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited December 2006

    It's not just Canada that has a shortage of surgeons who do the DIEP procedure. If you read the Reconstruction Forum, you'll see that many of our U.S. sisters travel to New Orleans to have their DIEPs done there, both because the center is known for their expertise in this procedure but also because lots of areas of the U.S. and even many of the major hospitals don't have any surgeons who do DIEPs.

  • raluca63
    raluca63 Member Posts: 20
    edited January 2007
    Hi Bessie,

    I have send you a PM...

    Calipso
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited March 2007
    Hi, do you ladies know if you can do reconstruction after having a mastectomy, then radiation? I'm also receiving chemo, rads...at PMH.
    Take care,
    Ginny
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited April 2007
    Hey, Ginny, just saw your post.

    I believe that Dr. Lipa does reconstruction after a mastectomy with radiation - she uses a Lat Flap (skin from the back) to get the extra skin needed because the breast skin has been deteriorated from the radiation.

    If you are at PMH for your treatment, then you should be able to get a reasonably quick referral to see Dr. Lipa. She has about a 2 year waiting list for non-urgent referrals (i.e. reconstruction surgery that is post-mastectomy), but because she works at TGH & PMH, if your surgeon works there, you'll get fast-tracked in to see her, although there still could be quite a wait to get scheduled for surgery.
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited April 2007
    Thank you Beesie for answering my post. Good to hear I could be fast tracked. My surgeon is at PMH. I guess after rads you can't do expanders?
    Thanks again for your response.
    Take care,
    Ginny
  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited April 2007
    Ginny,
    I believe that you can do expanders, but the skin for your reconstructed breast will come from the Lat Flap. This is apparently what Dr. Lipa recommended to Libby Znaimer, should she decide in the future to have a mastectomy. Here's the article:

    http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/...39-6082ef44ad01
  • 3ofus
    3ofus Member Posts: 254
    edited April 2007
    Thanks again Beesie. Wow, I was hoping not to ever have the lat flap, but rather expanders, if I ever needed a mastectomy of my other breast (I would do both then). I decided on radiation to my mastectomy site because the margins were pretty close, not a full 1 cm margin from my chest wall. I have several microinvasions of grade 3, er-pr-, and with close margins thought I would be preventing a recurrence best with chemo and rads. Unfortunately, I have not had recon yet, so my options are very limited after rads. My doctors were 50/50 on doing chemo and or rads....I better keep thinking about this. Rads are supposed to start sometime the end of June.

    Anyway, thank you for the very informative article.

    Take care,
    Ginny

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