DiepCJourney Podcast

Do most people who have nipple reconstruction have breast reconstruction? Not necessarily. Do you think about nipple reconstruction if you've had breast cancer and are in a consultation for breast reconstruction? We are going to answer these questions and others on this episode of the DiepCJourney Podcast.

My guest is Dr. Courtney Carpenter of PRMA in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Carpenter is passionate about utilizing her extensive expertise and experience to help transform lives through reconstructive plastic surgery. I want to point out that PRMA uses the co-surgeon model in breast reconstruction, meaning there are two board-certified microsurgeons with the patient in the OR at the time of autologous breast reconstruction surgery. PRMA is part of the IFAR (Institute for Advanced Reconstruction) network of surgeons.

We discuss these topics:

· At what phase of the reconstructive process does nipple reconstruction happen?

· Methods of nipple reconstruction.

· Recovery and dressings used after surgery.

· 3-D Medical tattooing of the NAC (nipple areola complex) for those who do not have nipple reconstruction.

This is what Dr. Carpenter tells us as she summarizes her thoughts at the end of the podcast.

"Nipple recon is something people don't think about. They hear their diagnosis. They are thinking about breasts. They are not necessarily thinking about the nipples or the thought that their nipples might be removed isn't something that even crosses their mind, even though it might be on my mind or their breast surgeon's mind.

I think that people should be encouraged to ask more questions. Especially if they are a candidate for preserving their nipples or not preserving their nipples. Questions are always great! I love questions, it means you're thinking about it! You're trying to get as much data as you want or as you need in order to make your decision."

I am grateful for her time and expertise to help prepare our listeners for their consulation for breast reconstruction surgery and to know what questions to ask about nipple reconstruction.

Connect with Dr. Carpenter on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prmaplasticsurgery/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PRMAplasticsurgery

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PRMAPlasticSurgery

How much do you know about robotic surgery for DIEP flap breast reconstruction?

What areas in the U.S. are performing these types of robotic surgery for those affected by breast cancer? What if I told you robotic DIEP flaps are being performed in Hawaii?

It is important to share with you surgeons I meet to provide access to care for those affected by breast cancer. Thank you for listening to the podcast to find out who these surgeons are. We are going to discuss robotic surgery and DIEP flap being performed in Hawaii with my guests on this edition of the DiepCJourney podcast. Be sure to watch our conversation on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel when it is published, and you can sit with us and watch our conversation.

I first met Dr. Daniel Murariu at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in San Diego in September of 2024. What impressed me at our first meeting was his interest in the resources breast cancer patients provide. We talked about the resources provided by DiepCJourney Foundation, but we also discussed the many other breast cancer support groups helping patients navigate their decision through treatment, surgery, and recovery.

I was also impressed with the time he spent listening and I thought to myself, if I were a patient of Dr. Murariu, I think I would feel very much a part of my decision process with his thoughtful demeanor. He is a TEDx UC Davis speaker, Rotarian, speaks three languages, has published multiple papers, an impressive resume to be sure!!

Further, Dr. Murariu practices the co-surgeon model at his private practice office in Honolulu, Hawaii at Hawaii Aesthetics and Robotic Plastic Surgery. He collaborates with his team member, Dr. Peter Deptula. We are going to learn more about the work of Dr. Deptula and his training in the interview.

They are both board-certified reconstructive surgeons who perform autologous breast reconstruction, lymphedema surgery, complex abdominal wall reconstruction, and complex microsurgery focusing on head and neck and breast reconstruction.

We wrap up our conversations with an announcement by Dr. Murariu. It is exciting to know that he and Dr. Deptula are organizing the RAMSES 2027 meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. RAMSES stands for The Robotic Assisted & Microsurgical Endoscopic Society, "The group represents the 'early adaptors' of robotic technology in the field of microsurgery." He graciously invites surgeons to visit them to observe their work and learn more about robotics in plastic surgery.

Connect with Dr. Murariu and Dr. Deptula across these platforms:

LinkedIn: Daniel Murariu

Instagram: The Aloha Plastic Surgeon

Facebook: Dr. Daniel Murariu

Dr. Deptula: https://www.instagram.com/doctor.petey/

This interview is another resource provided by DiepCFoundation.org specifically providing access to care for those affected by breast cancer. The slide presentation and interview are available on the Foundation educational channel for our listeners and followers who would like to access it at DiepCFoundation YouTube channel.

We are discussing a topic that is often discussed in my community so I reached out to my guest to share her expertise on the repair of diastasis and recognizing what a hernia or bulge might look like after autologous breast reconstruction, specifically DIEP flaps.

My guest is Dr. Kelsey McClure who practices with a team of other microsurgeons at Southwest Breast and Aesthetics in Phoenix, AZ. She is a board-certified plastic surgeon and holds certification with The American Board of Plastic Surgery.

She is an active member of:

• The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (ASRM)
• The American Society of Plastic Surgery (ASPS)
• Mountain West Society of Plastic Surgeons (MWSPS) AND the
• Arizona Society of Plastic Surgeons

She has authored several research publications. Dr. McClure believes that shared decision- making is necessary to tailor a comprehensive aesthetic and reconstructive plan.

We reference a PRS Global Open paper published by Dr. Arvind Gowda who has been a guest on a previous episode of the DiepCJourney podcast. The paper can be accessed through this open-source Journal here:

Approach to DIEP Flap Pedicle Dissection via a Midline Fascial Incision

Connect with Dr. Kelsey and her team across these platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southwestbreast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWBreast

When you have cancer you become a patient, and advocate, a student, and yes, I said student. It's like taking one of those classes at university that you must take to learn the topic, but you don't really want to take it. Have you ever met someone in the breast cancer community, and you think to yourself, "Damn! They really did a good job of navigating this whole process."

They view their life before cancer. They view their life during diagnosis, after treatment, after surgery, and what that should look like to them. Then they got on with it. I met one of those people and we chat on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

We met through a mutual friend who is a trained microsurgeon. Dr. Anita Mohan introduced me to the inspirational Samantha Vale. They have known each other for quite some time; before Anita was a microsurgeon and before Sam had breast cancer. They danced, celebrated, and traveled together. Their friendship continues today and I'm lucky to know them both.

The story of her multiple occurrences, surgeries, and the lessons she learned along the way will inspire the listener to put your own story into a new light and perspective. Sam is a single mom with two young children who continues to navigate her personal Journey and choice not to reconstruct after a double mastectomy.

Listen to Sam's story and how dance and music continue to nourish her creative strengths. She is a published author, and her book link can be found at the bottom of these notes.

Connect with Samantha across these platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthavaleuk/

https://www.instagram.com/samanthavaledance/

Samantha's book on Amazon: The Lady with no Hair

As promised, season five presents our listeners with interviews from experts and shares with you all your options for breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. In this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast the expert we interview is Dr. Arvind Gowda who collaborates with a team of surgeons at Southwest Breast and Aesthetics in Phoenix, Arizona.

One of our goals on the podcast is to provide access to care, no matter who you choose for your breast surgery. When you dial down to autologous reconstruction, using the patients own tissue, it becomes important to research the background, skill, and collaborative team effort of the microsurgeon you choose. Patients frequently must travel to find a microsurgeon, so it is our honor to provide this interview with Dr. Gowda for your consideration.

Dr. Arvind Gowda tells us about his interest, training, and fellowship in microsurgery for the listeners. He shares with us the names of his colleagues at Southwest Breast and Aesthetics. Dr. Gowda describes the importance of the co-surgeon model and how he and his team work together to optimize patient outcomes and improve the experience for the patient and the surgeon.

Dr. Gowda talks about the role of PAs (Physician Assistants) both in and out of the operating room at his practice. PAs play an integral role in the OR but also in clinic and for patient follow up. The ability to reach out to the PA when the surgeon is with a patient in the OR helps facilitate communication for patients.

Dr. speaks of the importance of patients assessing their goals to have a truly shared decision-making conversation with them regarding their choice in breast reconstruction and breast surgery.

Dr. Gowda shares his morning routine as well as one of his favorite workouts plans to maintain his health and stay strong for his patients.

Connect with Dr. Gowda through his practice on these platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southwestbreast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWBreast

Listeners of the DiepCJourney podcast are familiar with the DIEP flap breast reconstruction procedure where the abdominal skin, tissue, and underlying blood vessels are used to replace the breast tissue lost due to mastectomy after being affected by breast cancer. On this episode we are going to discuss the "stacked flap" in breast reconstruction.

I'm speaking with Dr. Tim Matatov of Southwest Breast and Aesthetics in Phoenix, AZ. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is specifically trained in microsurgery. It is the specialty of microsurgery that is required to perform a stacked flap procedure. Dr. Matatov and his team perform these and why I reached out to him for this interview.

Dr. Matatov tells us the original definition of a stacked flap is that you put one flap on top of the other and place those two flaps into a surgical site, in this instance, the breast area to recreate a breast after mastectomy.

It has evolved to a flap from the abdomen, a bipedicle flap with two blood vessels that are connected to the entire abdomen and taken as one piece. He points out that at his practice it is used for skin resurfacing in the radiated patient where a lot of the damaged tissue would have to be removed. This type of flap provides enough skin to repair the area damaged and needing repair from radiation.

Another purpose for a stacked flap is in the setting of a single mastectomy; when a patient chooses to remove only one breast and keep the other and there is not enough tissue from a single flap from the back, thigh, or abdomen. In this instance, the stacked flap provides the volume needed to achieve symmetry with the existing breast.

Dr. Matatov goes on to tell us where on the body theses blood and tissue sources are from as well as what the recovery looks like for patients.

Be sure to check out Dr. Matatov's podcast on Blood Vessels in Breast Reconstruction here:

https://diepcjourney.libsyn.com/blood-vessels-in-breast-reconstruction

Connect with Dr. Matatov and his practice on these platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southwestbreast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWBreast

My guest on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast is a young woman who during the height of the COVID pandemic, at only 33 years old, became diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.

Her Journey was not easy but, it is truly inspiring and motivating. She has a strong family history of distinct types of cancer. This is a quote from her website:

"Tired of reactive approaches, that waited for symptoms to appear, I refused to let history repeat itself. Recognizing that others face similar challenges I knew action was needed."

This quote reflects her work, her passion, and her profession. My guest is Rori Zura, who many know from social media as "badass" Foobs and Fitness.

The resilience she practiced doing chemotherapy alone during the pandemic translated into the grit and determination discovering her current work. Rori is a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Subsequently, she became a certified Cancer Exercise Specialist with the Cancer Exercise Training Institute.

Her message is clear. Studies have shown that exercise can reduce the side effects of breast cancer treatment, reduce risk factors, and minimize the risk of recurrence. As she states on her website, "My goal is to create a tidal wave of change within our healthcare system."

Sit with us and listen to Rori's story to be inspired. Be sure to watch this interview on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel.

Connect with Rori across these platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/foobs-and-fitness/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foobsandfitness

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foobsandfitness/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foobsandfitness

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@foobsandfitness

This episode of the DiepCJourney podcast is our final edition in 2024. I share a discussion across continents with two women leaders I admire who engage in patient advocacy and the patient story.

Marie Ennis O'Connor is well known for "Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer" a platform where she gathers writers and bloggers sharing their stories across social media platforms. Her journey in patient advocacy began twenty years ago with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Marie poignantly tells us in the interview that,

"We find when we are diagnosed with a serious illness, something is missing. We look around and see who can fix this. I discovered the person who could fix it was me."

Sue Robins , whose patient experience started with a breast cancer diagnosis, has focused her healthcare advocacy based on her son, Erin's down syndrome. Like Marie, her healthcare advocacy began about twenty years ago. She is a Senior Partner and Patient Consultant at Bird Comm.

I call them both my friends and they grace us with rich information in the realm of storytelling and patient engagement. We take a deep dive and share firsthand experiences, good and bad, about conference attendance, invitations to speak, and how important we feel it is to pass on the wisdom we have learned to the next generation of advocates.

We are filled with nostalgic hope of meeting in person some day in Ireland, Marie's home country, on the Wild Atlantic Way, the western side of Ireland. It was my favorite area when I visited there in the fall of 2023 and was able to meet Marie in person in Dublin.

Enjoy the final 2024 episode and I look forward to seeing you on the DiepCJourney podcast in 2025 with more exciting guests and topics!!

Connect with Marie across these platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marieennisoconnor/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondbreastcancer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marie_ennis_oconnor/

Connect with Sue across these platforms:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue--6609147/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sue.squawk.9

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suework/

Books: Birds Eye View and Ducks in a Row

Ten years ago, on December 1, 2014, I was in the trusted hands of a skilled microsurgeon who took tissue from my tummy area along with the skin and blood vessels, and rebuilt what cancer had taken away from me. I lost my breasts to a double mastectomy. For those of us who have been affected by breast cancer, a mastectomy is an amputation. The skilled microsurgeon is my guest on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.

Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo, president of PRMA in San Antonio, Texas, reconstructed my breasts using the training, skill, and compassion that makes him who he is as a breast reconstruction surgeon and is one of the finest human beings I know.

This podcast is a celebration of our work together over the past ten years and the work we will continue to do for the breast cancer community.

This podcast is about mentorship, past, present, and future. Join us as we take a walk down memory lane to hear about his own journey becoming who he is today and those who inspired him to chose microsurgery. If you have been in plastic surgery for any time, many of the names he mentions as his own mentors will be familiar to you.

This interview is quiet, thoughtful, and a couple of times catches me off guard emotionally with a mentor and friend. Thank you for listening with us.

Connect with Dr. Chrysopoulo on Social Media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrChrysopoulo/

Instagram and Threads: https://www.instagram.com/mchrysopoulo/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/drchrysopoulo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drchrysopoulo/

Solutions often begin with a conversation. When faced with the task of planning your surgery, it is the goal of the DiepCJourney podcast to provide a pathway to workable solutions for those affected by breast cancer.

My guest is Dr. Andrew Elkwood, an international expert in advanced reconstruction and a highly skilled microsurgeon. Dr. Elkwood is the founder of The Plastic Surgery Center and Institute for Advanced Reconstruction (IFAR) in New Jersey.

You can also visit www.advancedreconstruction.com or call 954-218-5137 to schedule a consultation with a surgeon on these advanced and specialty conditions. The surgeons in the IFAR network perform breast reconstruction surgery due to loss of breast after mastectomy from breast cancer.

They also perform the following surgery addressing conditions that arise due to breast cancer treatment, many of which are nerve related.

· Neuropathy

· post mastectomy pain syndrome

· lymphedema surgery

· radiation-induced brachial plexopathy (numbness, tingling, weakness in the shoulder and/or arm

Watch the interview on YouTube:

Pathways to Care Due to Secondary Issues from Breast Cancer Treatment

Follow IFAR on Social Media:

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube