I may have picked a not so great surgeon =\

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GardenGirl11
GardenGirl11 Member Posts: 26
edited October 2017 in Breast Reconstruction

I'm already scheduled to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery immediately following. I received a phone call today from a good friend who is a nurse who spoke to her spouse, a nurse anesthetist, and several other nurses and anesthetists who had unfavorable things to say about the cosmetic surgeon I chose. They recommend another one who they though achieved the best results and didn't have a lot of patients coming in for fixes.

I don't know what I should do. I feel like I should get a second opinion or maybe even call the oncologist's office to see why they picked the doctor they sent me to see. I can't make my decision from any real reviews from actual patients. The only reviews I could find were on websites like Vitals and Heathcheck. The doctor my friend recommended had a higher number of reviews, more awards and went to an Ivy League medical school. The doctor I have scheduled has good reviews, but less of them, no awards, and went to a school that I haven't heard of (but that doesn't make it a bad school), and who I've met and liked as a person.

What would you do?

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  • LeesaD
    LeesaD Member Posts: 383
    edited October 2017
    It is very common especially with a cancer dx to get second opinions and meet with more than one surgeon and plastic surgeon. I went with both my second opinions breast surgeon and plastic surgeon and never looked back. Good luck with your decision!
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  • Cpeachymom
    Cpeachymom Member Posts: 518
    edited October 2017

    Garden, I would absolutely take recommendations from people who work in the field! If they're trying to steer you away from someone, that's something to pay attention to. Best of luck to you

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  • Beatmon
    Beatmon Member Posts: 1,562
    edited October 2017

    Remember, it is your life! Most people get second and even third opinions. Go with the one you feel best about. If your friends have stepped out to give you advice, there is most likely a problem

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  • Outfield
    Outfield Member Posts: 1,109
    edited October 2017

    GardenGirl, I am in medicine (but not surgery) and would trust the information from people who work in the OR over random patient sampling any day. Everyone sees a lot of surgeries in medical school, and you see the difference between surgeons. You see the difference between meticulous and anxious, between confident and cavalier. Everyone in the OR sees that, and people who are there day after day do see how many patients need to come in for surgeries to fix something from a prior surgery. I've had 13 surgeries, and when I've needed a new surgeon I've tried to get the opinion of OR personnel or surgical residents.

    I'm a little curious how you already had an oncologist - usually patients with small tumors are referred first to a surgeon first. Did you mean the surgeon doing your mastectomy? If that's the person who recommended the plastic surgeon with whom you are currently scheduled it's likely because they have an established and comfortable working relationship.

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  • Mucki1991
    Mucki1991 Member Posts: 294
    edited October 2017

    choose wisely you have to look at it forever. Get other opinions

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  • VegGal
    VegGal Member Posts: 507
    edited October 2017

    Yes! Get other opinions. I am in the medical field also and usually if an individual chooses a bad doc, we just don't say anything! Consider yourself blessed that others have spoken up!

    When I was being prepped for my revision, the OR staff kept gushing about my PS. I commented that she must "really be good" or they'd say nothing. They immediately commented, "You got that right!"

    Measure twice, cut once!

    Good luck to you.

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  • NotVeryBrave
    NotVeryBrave Member Posts: 1,287
    edited October 2017

    I would absolutely schedule an appointment for a second opinion with the recommended PS. You are very recently diagnosed and even if you weren't getting conflicting information - it's still a good idea to see more than one MD.

    I ended up going with the BS I saw for a second opinion and the PS she recommended. Sometimes it's just what feels right.


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  • lifeb4me
    lifeb4me Member Posts: 39
    edited October 2017

    I would absolutely see another BS and PS. I hated my results, I did not know I would have such a visible scar for the nodes and my breast scar is hideous. I am having revision surgery in January. When I started to mistrust my BS it was too close to the surgery date to get a new doctor, although I tried I couldn't get an appointment before my surgery date and was not comfortable delaying my surgery. In hindsight I should have. I read about hidden scar surgery only after I had been "butchered". So, take the time to choose someone who you trust and feel right about

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  • Luckynumber47
    Luckynumber47 Member Posts: 397
    edited October 2017

    I'm going to jump on the bandwagon and agree with everyone else - get a second opinion. I loved my BS but hated the PS she recommended. I went ahead with her anyway because I just couldn't face delaying surgery even one more minute. The PS did a lousy job - big dog ears (side boobs) lumps of tissue, and lots of saggy skin. Of course she said she could fix it all but why on earth would I pay her to fix what she should have done properly the first time. So I mostly just try to ignore how I look, plus I'm totally opposed to more surgery.

    I'd also recommend getting in writing exactly what you expect. I just assumed my PS would make me look as good as possible and that sure didn't happen

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  • Wildplaces
    Wildplaces Member Posts: 864
    edited October 2017

    A second opinion is a good thing - always clears the air.

    Having said that - you alone can decide whether the "unfavourable things" are personality or skill driven - and largely depend on the substance of the objections your nurse friend reported on

    Take backs are a serious matter, he is not as nice, talkative and ...is another.

    Don't be shy to trust your gut instinct - it will serve you well. 😊🌷

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  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited October 2017

    Gardengirl...I'm a RN and I always tell people that nurses have the inside scoop! IMO you should definitely get a second opinion. Good luck and keep us posted.

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  • Virgo73
    Virgo73 Member Posts: 43
    edited October 2017

    A second opinion for every step in this journey has made all the difference for me. I found my surgeon through a second opinion and also met with 3 plastic surgeons before deciding on one. I vote #2 opinion :). Good luck girlie <

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  • HoneyBadger47
    HoneyBadger47 Member Posts: 98
    edited October 2017

    Second opinion for sure. My surgeon, oncologist and plastic surgeon were all second opinions. I think I would have been in perfectly good hands had I chose some or all of the first, because I did a lot of research.

    One thing I took into account on the PS was the fact that doing an awesome job on cosmetic procedures is important, but I wanted someone with a lot of experience doing reconstruction with good cosmetic results. If I decide to get a face lift later in life, I may go to someone completely different. A lot have their niche, so to speak.


    Good luck

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  • McCMom
    McCMom Member Posts: 5
    edited October 2017

    Absolutely see the other doctor recommended by your friend. Trust your instincts. I just recently redid my recon because I didn't trust my instincts on my original PS. Please learn from my mistake. Get it right the first time, it will be better for you in the long run. Good luck

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  • GardenGirl11
    GardenGirl11 Member Posts: 26
    edited October 2017

    Thank you for the encouragement!

    Outfield: He is a surgeon who received additional training in surgical oncology of the breast. He is the head of the breast surgery department at the surgical clinic, and he also performs surgeries for benign conditions of the breast. He's a surgeon who specializes in breast cancer removal, therefore I declare him a surgical oncologist (SO)!!! =]

    The SO was recommended to me by my GP...said he would send his mom, wife, and daughters to him. The SO recommended the PS that gave me the first opinion. When I called the SO's office to find to see how he chooses, they said that after he sees the patients he decides which surgeon would be best to perform the reconstruction. Maybe it's more like "eeny meeny miny moe." They said he only uses two PSs, one is the doctor that I've already had the consultation with and the other one is the second opinion.

    I called my patient coordinator to let her know I wanted to see the other doctor. She set up an appoint for me to have a consultation with him on the 25th. I am supposed to have surgery on the 1st, so it's very last minute. 'm really nervous because I already I know I'm going to pick him, and it would be a miracle if he were available on the 1st. I'll probably have to move my surgery to late November. It freaks me out to have to wait, but after spending the last several days looking at of pictures and watching videos of reconstructed breasts, I'll risk it and and go with the best surgeon. My self image and sexuality is important to me...and I know if I'm happy with the way I look I'll have a more positive outlook. I've seen some fantastic recons and others that were so terrible I can't believe the person doing it would call themselves a PS.

    My friend also asked some others at another hospital where he works and they all agreed to not use him. One NP told her there was, "no way in hell," she would ever send anyone to see him. =O The CRNAs she initially spoke with also said in addition to being a bad surgeon he's also a huge jerk. =\ Because these opinions are from people who work with and around him in the OR day in and day out and see his botched reconstructions I'm going to trust their opinion over my SO. =D The only reason I can think of on why the SO doesn't know about all the botched recons and repairs is because once he's done with the cancer part of surgery he's finished with me for the most part.

    I'm glad that I feel good about the SO. Someone that my husband works with, who's wife has bc told him that he was their third opinion and the one they decided to use. Knowing that they vetted other PSs and chose him makes me trust that I'm doing the right thing even though it may delay the surgery. Also my friend has only heard good things about him. :D

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited October 2017

    I so support your path, GardenGirl. My old (2005) breast surgeon was probably excellent technically, but had a HORRIBLE bedside and clinical manner. On my very first visit, she didn't even ask or confirm my family history before the first words she said to me (before even saying hello!), which were 'If you want bilateral mastectomies I'm going to fall down in a chair.' After I had a terrible time with bracketing, and told her so, her reply was not the expected 'I'm sorry this happened to you', but was 'If this happens again you need to tell the CEO of the hospital.' I'm not saying I want/would want PBMs, but I don't like automatically having someone take that off of my plate WITHOUT full info or asking how I felt about that.

    I saw a general surgeon at my local hospital (for an entirely different issue), and she said when she was vetting surgical candidates to fill a new surgical position, one of the candidates was a resident of the nearby tertiary care center. His resume looked fantastic. However, my female general surgeon said she (my general surgeon) had a breast biopsy by this candidate, and his biopsy had BOTH an entrance wound AND an exit wound (he went THROUGH the breast) !! She did NOT recommend him to work at my local hospital.

    I'm a pharmacist and I can CERTAINLY tell you that degrees and certifications do NOT mean a whole lot with co-worker pharmacists. From personal experience, pharmacy degrees don't evaluate work ethic, thoroughness, even knowledge etc.

    I was referred to my old breast surgeon for a possible breast excision, and I refused to go to my old breast surgeon. I made an appointment with my general/breast surgeon.

    Be brave enough to take your OWN path!

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