NOLA "Club"... are YOU a member?

Hi Lorna,

I'm so glad your trip to NOLA was such a success. I'm going to see your favorite surgeon Monday for my post-op appt.

God Bless,

Alaina

Lorna, I am a happy completed NOLA patient.  Finished stage 3 bilateral DIEP last December after going through a  previous year back home of reconstruction mishaps, Nola's group reinvented my breasts on my chest.  I consider the staff angels and even the office has this surreal heavenly ambience.  My trip getting there was hampered by an insurance appeal that took about a year.

Me, too... I had bilateral SGAP reconstruction (delayed) with Drs. DellaCroce and Sullivan in Feb. of this year.  I have finished Stage 3 in October.  I am from Canada and there was no reconstruction available to me here other than implants and I didn't want implants (didn't want to have more surgeries to replace them when I was older).  Unfortunately, I had to pay for the whole procedure as insurance here will not cover out of country procedures.  It was very expensive, but sooooooooooo worth it.   These doctors and their staff have totally spoiled me for ever being satisfied with medical care in the future.  The whole experience was the best I have ever had.... I felt like I was on a vacation at a spa (except for the surgery, of course) with the limo rides and the extra care they gave.  They even sent me a birthday card!!!!!   I can't say enough about the experience.  I am almost sad that it is over!!!  The extra things that Dr. D. did (lipo on my legs and body) have made the world of difference to how I feel about myself. 

So.... I am so thankful to have found them and become a member of the NOLA club.

Hugs,  Colleen

Alaina,

Yes, I asked for a copy. It was really just a basic standardized report of a bilateral DIEP flap surgery. Other than my name and surgery date on each page,the only personalized entry was the weight of the 2 flaps.

Sara

Thankfully, I am a member too!  I had my stage II DIEP surgery with Dr. DellaCroce on 11/9, plus he fixed up complications I was having from stage I done elsewhere.  My abdomen had to be completely reopened and he removed a bunch of scar tissue that resulted from a seroma that formed after my first surgery.  He basically redid my entire first stage except for grafting the flaps, and I am so glad that I heard about him here and on the FORCE (www.facingourrisk.org) bulletin board.  Dr. D wanted to completely remove the skin paddles created in my first surgery and didn't want to overdo the stretching of my skin, so I will have an extra stage, but I wanted that rather than a compromise of the esthetic result at completion.   

I'm going back in February to complete the miraculous revision work, and then will hopefully get tattooed in May.  I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Trahan the day after my surgery.  He told me that my abdominal incision looked like a paper cut, and now that the glue has come off, it really does.  It has healed up so much better and faster than it did the first time.   I was leery about traveling so far for surgery, but now would not hesitate to recommend NOLA for reconstruction.  The website for the center is www.breastcenter.com.   I had my surgery at Oschner Baptist, and cannot speak highly enough of the wonderful staff there.    

Lorna had her surgery with Dr. D as I was counting down the days until my own journey there, and her posts were very encouraging to me.  She helped me trust that I'd made the right choice!!  

Lorna, I too am in the UK and considered having my surgery in the US, where is NOLA? Also, if you don't mind my asking what didn't you like about the surgery you had done in the UK?



tnx xJackie

Hi Lorna, 

I'm very happy to be a member of the NOLA Club!  I had delayed bilateral GAP reconstruction with Drs. D & S in March 2005. Dr. DellaCroce is my primary surgeon, and he and Dr. Sullivan transformed my deformed and painful implant reconstruction into beautiful painfree breasts. They are such talented and gifted surgeons and I am so blessed to have found them.  Dr. D and everyone at the Center will always hold a special place in my heart. -- Amy 

I had surgery in September in NOLA.  Dr Sullivan was my promary surgeon.  Everyone in the office was wonderful and they did an awesome job~ Kathy

I am also a member. I am so happy with my results, were it not for the scars (they will fade) you would never know they weren't original.

I had diep, 1st stage in February 07, 2nd stage in May, having some tweaking done December 14th, hoping to get my tattoo's then too, but Celeste said she doesn't think so. Will see what Dr Dellacroce has to say. I may have to go back another time.

There is no way to express the way you are treated there, one must experience it. It was awesome!

Doris

Put me on the roster too.  Dr. Sullivan is my primary doc.  I had stage 1 unilateral DIEP September 2007 after chemo, mastectomy, and radiation.  Currently I'm recovering from stage 2 done last week.

The good doctors provide the surgical talent and vision for the Center, but it is the ladies of the Centre that carry out that vision with excellence and class.  Hats off to Liz, Celeste, Karen, and Katie.

notme

Am scheduled August 17 for bilateral hip flaps to replace previous LD flap with implants.

Hi All,

As most of you know I just got back from NOLA 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Dr. Dellacroce did an awesome job fixing a Tram gone bad and Dr. Stolier (nice sweet man) did an awesome job with the tissue and nipple sparing mastectomy on the other side.  Now that the swelling has gone down I have a large A on the right and a B on the left.  I have total confidence that after Stage 2 end of Sept revisions will be made that will be very satisfactory. 

I was taken care of at Oschner Baptist and they did a great job.  Very blessed to be part of the NOLA club.

Vicki

vicki

So glad to hear you're doing so well! Thanks for keeping us posted. It really does help those of us still waiting for our turn keep our chins up!

Wendy - best to you, hon. Please let us know how you are if you can!

Hugs

Su

NOLA is short for New Orleans, Louisiana

NOLA also refers to the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery in New Orleans founded by Drs. Sullivan and DellaCroce.

You go Wendy!!!! You will do wonderful!!! Wishing you a speedy recovery from surgery! Please let us know when you are well enough to "type." Keep in touch!

God Bless