Dr. Kovach or Dr. Serletti of Philadelphia?

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Peaches70
Peaches70 Member Posts: 210
edited May 2016 in Breast Reconstruction
Dr. Kovach or Dr. Serletti of Philadelphia?
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  • Peaches70
    Peaches70 Member Posts: 210
    edited February 2008

    I'm replacing my previous request for info with this one. My insurance company wants me to use one of these doctors for my PBM reconstruction. I have been evaluated by Dr. Allen in NY last month. He recommends a new type of thigh free flap (not TUG) or an SGAP. I am not a candidate for DIEP, not interested in implants due to my age - 54 - and not wanting to have replacement surgery at 70. These doctors are located in Philadelphia, which is actually closer to me, but from what I can tell, they are not strictly breast reconstructionists. I am looking for any information about them. Has anyone used them or consulted with them? I would like to use Dr. Allen instead, but cannot afford it if the insurance won't cooperate. Help!

    Anne

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  • twink
    twink Member Posts: 1,574
    edited February 2008

    I'm sorry Anne, I can't help you with these names (even though I'm in the area).  My PS was not solely a breast guy either but he did a pretty good job (I went with implants though).  If you're going for a flap surgery, I'd certainly recommend that you find out how experienced these guys are in that type of surgery (particularly if it's new).  I wouldn't want to be their first surgery.

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  • Peaches70
    Peaches70 Member Posts: 210
    edited February 2008

    Me, either. I do know they do more than just implants and DIEP, but one has only been practicing for 6 years. The other is bigger into facial reconstruction. I just want to make the best choice.

    Anne

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  • beth1225
    beth1225 Member Posts: 1,061
    edited February 2008

    Peaches, I was not going to go into Philly for a surgeon.  I went to Dr. Christopher Pezzi who is an oncologic surgeon at Abington Hospital which is northwest of the city.  He works a lot with Dr. Brian Buinewicz who does more than just recon as well.  I was comfortable with Dr. B right away and he has done fabulous work so far.  I would never hesitate to recommend him.  His website is www.phillyplasticsurgery.com and his phone number is 215-230-4013.  The office staff is caring and compassionate and he and his staff are always available for questions and/or problems.  He does all of the various recon procedures and I had the one-step alloderm with immediate implants.

    If you want to email me with any questions my email is larryandbeth1@verizon.net.  Dr. B's resume as a surgeon is very impressive and it is on his website.

    BTW, where do you live?  I am in Willow Grove.  We are planning another Philly/S. Jersey get-together so I want to include you as well.

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  • medommer
    medommer Member Posts: 22
    edited February 2008

    I had DIEP reconstruction with Dr. Serletti 4 years ago when he was head of the plastic surgery dept. at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester NY.  He did a wonderful job.  I've been told by several of my other doctors that the reconstruction was one of the best that they have seen. 

    Maria 

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  • cbl
    cbl Member Posts: 123
    edited February 2008

    I have heard nothing but really good things about Dr. Serletti.  I considered having my surgery at PENN and I certainly would have wanted Serletti for the reconstruction.   As it turned out I used a great PS closer to my home in South Jersey but his credentials are very impressive and I asked around a lot before making a decision.

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  • Peaches70
    Peaches70 Member Posts: 210
    edited February 2008

    Thank you all for your responses. I live in NJ, just south of Trenton (Beth), so Philadelphia is certainly closer to me than NYC. I just heard so many wonderful things about Dr. Allen that I felt like he was the only doctor I wanted. I am not having implants or DIEP, so am trying to make sure that whoever I use is very experienced with other free flaps. Hearing good things about Serletti is comforting, but I still want to know how many free flaps he has done.

    Anne

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  • Ondagrow
    Ondagrow Member Posts: 349
    edited January 2011

    Has anyone had a diep flap performed by Dr. Serletti...

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  • happy29
    happy29 Member Posts: 296
    edited January 2011

    Hi

     I consulted with Dr Serletti about a year a half ago, whom came highly recommended by my breast surgeon and other ladies. I ,also, was not a candidate for a DIEP, due to too little belly fat.

    Dr Serletti seemed very competent but he told me I was not a candidate for inner thigh but he could do a S/I Gap. He would do one side at a time- meaning reconstruct one breast in a 12-14 hour surgery. Then heal for 6 weeks and then another 12-14 hour surgery and do the other side.

    One week prior I had consulted with Dr Allen - who offered me a TUG or S/IGap in one 6-8 hour surgery. No brainer- I chose Dr Allen with a TUG and it was a 6.5 hour surgery.

     sohardnme-I know dr Serletti has performed many DIEPS but perhaps those Ladies are not using these boards. Ask him for some referrals. Also ask him if he spares the muscle.

     Good Luck

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  • ref
    ref Member Posts: 129
    edited January 2011

    happy,

    I just had a consult with Dr. Allen. I am considering a new procedure using the back of the thighs, a modification of a TUG. I had implant reconstruction last year, had capsular contracture and even after revision I am not pleased so I am looking at my options. I was wondering if you are happy with your cosmetic outcome from the TUG, in terms of symmetry, shape, size. Did you need revisions? Do you have any difficulty sitting from the thigh incisions? How did you like Allen for all phases of the process? I appreciate any help you can provide. Thanks!

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  • happy29
    happy29 Member Posts: 296
    edited January 2011

    Hi ref

    Dr Allen is Amazing!!! Such a gift from God- He is talented ,experienced, compassionate, humble.....

    Tug- mine was inner thigh. Yes I did need revisions . He also made me a nipple from thigh tissue in stage 1.

    Great results,beautiful shape , very firm, revisons helped with symmetry .no difficulty sitting. I wonder why he modifies the tug? maybe scars in front? My scars are still visible one and half years out . Although the surgery was really tough and scars are not in a great spot- I am happy that I still have my rearend in tact (SGap was my other option)My thighs are slim now.Diep probably would have been better but I did not have enough tissue.

    Good Luck to you..

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  • ref
    ref Member Posts: 129
    edited January 2011

    Thanks happy

    Yes, I think the modification may be to avoid the scars in the front but I guess that means it's a longer scar in the back. It seems everything is a compromise. Is the incision rounded along the butt crease or does it run straight across the back of your thigh? That's great that you had no problems with sitting. It's one of my concerns versus SGAP but for me, the thigh may be the only place I have adequate supply and even then I'll be lucky to get Bs. I also agree that I would like to keep my butt in tact.  Did Dr. Allen do your revisions too? Were you basically satisfied after stage 1 and then just needed minor tweaking or were the revisions more significant to the final outcome? I guess I just want to prepare myself for what is realistic at stage 1.Thank you so much for sharing your experience with me.

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  • ArleneMarie
    ArleneMarie Member Posts: 152
    edited January 2011

    HI there,

    I started my mastectomy  and reconstruction in Philadelphia at Penn Hospital with Dr. Dahlia Sataloff and I am using Dr. Louis Bucky for reconstruction.  I cannot say enough about the quality of work of either surgeon.  We have since moved to SC and I have to fly back for one more saline fill in the expander and then exchange surgery on March 9th with silicone implants.  I know that you mentioned you were not interested in implants but I am 47 and, after my initial consultation with Dr. Bucky, not everyone needs to have the silicone implants replaced.  If they are replaced, it is an outpatient surgery just like the exchange surgery from TE's to implants.  I don't know if this helps you or not but I thought you may want to rethink implants since the recovery time is less and there are fewer scars.

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  • happypants
    happypants Member Posts: 2
    edited May 2011

    Hi,

    I had DIEP with Dr. Serletti Oct 2010. He is the best! I don't regret one day doing this surgery. I just had revision surgey in May and I am very happy with the results. Dr. Serletti has amazing hands.

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  • Ramonica60
    Ramonica60 Member Posts: 23
    edited May 2016

    I had nipple sparing mastectomy with DIEP flap in 2015with Dr. Serletti at UPenn I am disappointed to say the least and will be going elsewhere for a revision surgery.

    Because I heard many good things about Dr. Serletti prior to selecting him and even spoke on the phone with someone who used him I am surprised that I had a disappointing outcome. It makes me wonder if the plastic surgery fellow did most of the surgery. This is speculation and I will never know who actually did most of the work. My sister is in NY and went somewhere else and got an A+ result. I was all set up to use the same docs my sister used and backed out at the last minute. Dr. Serletti was a great salesman and convinced me that UPenn was the best place for my type of surgery! to his credit, he did a great job re creating my umbilicus and am very happy with the umbilicus (I had DIEP flap). I am not going back to him for the revision.

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