So I know it’s been awhile, but I wanted to pick up with my journey where I left off. To recap from my second to last post, A Time to Tear and Mend: Surgery Options, I talked about doing months of research to determine the type of surgery I wanted. I ultimately decided on the Direct to Implant (DTI) surgery option. I made the decision based on my own body and what I thought was best for me.
The next step would naturally be to locate the right surgeon. Despite growing up in Oklahoma and this area being my most comfortable surroundings, I always knew I would have the procedure done out of state. That is not to say that there aren’t quality breast surgeons in Oklahoma that perform an “implant” type of surgery, but it was important to me to find someone who had experience doing the Direct to Implant surgery. For me, it was never about convenience, it was always about getting the best care possible. An important note here is that you will technically have two surgeons in any surgery option. You will have a breast surgeon who will remove the breast tissue and a plastic surgeon who will do the reconstruction. Most of the research and medical experts I talked to suggested focusing on choosing the plastic surgeon first and then vetting the breast surgeon they worked with primarily. Most plastic surgeons work exclusively with a particular breast surgeon; however, some don’t so it’s important to discuss that with any plastic surgeon you are considering.
Things I looked for while searching for in a plastic surgeon:
Do they actually perform the surgery? The plastic surgeon’s website is the greatest source of information. When I was researching my options, I would read the surgeon’s profile very carefully. Not all plastic surgeons are created equal. If they perform Direct to Implant, they will say so. Otherwise, they might be referring to expanders which is when they put an implant in after giving you a balloon type filling first. Again, read carefully.
Logistics? I was willing to travel but logistics such as flying vs. driving and where to stay after surgery were all still important things to consider.
Do they have good “after” pictures? Most of the websites I visited had the option to look at “before and after” pictures of patients with some information about their medical situation. Let me tell you, looking at pictures of other women’s breasts was not something I ever thought I would be doing. I remember being so uncomfortable going through pictures and rating whether or not they looked good to me and reading their stories. Eventually, it became easier and felt like I was scrolling through Instagram or Pinterest.
To contact a plastic surgeon’s office I literally just filled out the “Contact Us” section of the website, and someone usually got back to me within 24–48 hours. You will want to talk to someone on the phone, tell them a little bit of your medical history as well as the type of surgery you are interested in. They will then want to set up a consultation. Most places that deal with out of state patients have the option of doing a Skype consultation before anything is scheduled to make sure you are a candidate. During my process, I did not have a Skype consultation with any of the surgeon’s I was considering. I was just more comfortable meeting with them in person. It gave me a chance to see them face to face, see their facilities and for them to see me “in the flesh” so to speak. I cannot reiterate this enough that you are hiring them. Choose the surgeon that you have the most confidence in. To set up the consultation they typically will send you an Online Patient Portal link to upload documents and pictures. This is why I always remind everyone how essential it is to keep good records. Also, these are the same things you will want to bring a copy of with you when you go there in person.
Things they will need from you:
Copy of your insurance card.
Copy of your driver’s license.
Copy of your official genetics report.
Pictures of yourself. Yep, you read correctly. They will provide very specific directions on what they are looking for in terms of the number of pictures and angles.
Some will ask for your medical history, or you will fill it out on their own form.
I’ve had a lot of people ask me what kind of questions I prepared ahead of time when going to visit these plastic surgeons. I made a list of questions that I felt like were right for me. Believe me you will have more questions while you are there and more questions after you leave their office. Which is great! It’s important for you to ask them questions.
Here were the main questions I had for the places I considered:
Tell me about the Direct to Implant procedure.
Am I candidate for the surgery?
What is the recovery process like?
What are the risks and limitations?
How long does the surgery take?
How long will I have to stay in town while I recover?
Is it better to drive or fly home?
Have past patients reported any post mastectomy pain?
How are follow-ups done and how often are they needed?
How many patients, like myself, who have never been diagnosed with cancer, were later diagnosed after prophylactic surgery?
Are there any past patients you know of that would be willing to share their experiences?
I recommend bringing a notebook to write down notes. You will have a lot of information thrown at you and you won’t be able to remember everything they tell you. Another super important tip I can give you is don’t leave the office without grabbing a business card of everyone you came into contact with. This will be important for follow up questions, and it’s always helpful having the direct phone number and email.
I would also like to make it clear that although I had the Direct to Implant surgery in mind, I still had to be determined a candidate by both the breast surgeon and the plastic surgeon. It is important to go into this situation knowing that you may not be a candidate for your first option when it comes to surgery. Be prepared to pivot or go with a Plan B option. Because sometimes that’s life and everyone’s situation depends on their own body and medical history.
So, I made my appointments and set out on my journey! Coming up, I will go into depth about the two places I visited and how I ended up making my decision!
Thanks for reading!
