Reconstructive Surgery

Question

Has anyone recently had a post mastectomy delayed reconstructive surgery in Sydney? I want to get one done but dont know of any great surgeons?
I'd love to hear of any positive/negative stories.
Also does anyone know if its covered my medicare, ie: medically/clinically neccesary?
Thanks so much. x

julia44 · Answer

Hi Harmonious,
I am also in Sydney and have been looking into this.&nbsp; The name that I have been given by my surgeon and also my radation oncologist is Dr Harvey Stern.
I have also heard somewhere that Dr David Pennington is good.
I have an appt in a few weeks with my surgeon and will then get referral.
Good Luck and let us know what you find out. Thanks Julia
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

julia44 · Answer

Hi Harmonious,
I am also in Sydney and have been looking into this.&nbsp; The name that I have been given by my surgeon and also my radation oncologist is Dr Harvey Stern.
I have also heard somewhere that Dr David Pennington is good.
I have an appt in a few weeks with my surgeon and will then get referral.
Good Luck and let us know what you find out. Thanks Julia
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

chris · Answer

Hi Julia and Harmonious, I had my final stage of reconstruction yesterday in Sydney.  My first mastectomy was in December 2010, and my second one with the insertion of bilateral tissue expanders was in September 2011. Three weeks after surgery they start the inflation process. Initially during the first surgery they put in about 100 to 200mls to start the process. It just feels a bit tight. Over the next few weeks I would have another 100 mls added, and when I was 500mls I decided I was big enough. They made me wait about 7 weeks till the exchange, which happened yesterday. I had Dr Charles Cope and he operated at the SAN in Wahroonga. He also works at Castlecrag private hospital. He is really really good, and I am delighted with what I can see today. My new boobs look so much 
better than the expanders, and though I have a small 
amount of surgical pain, I don't seem to have any 
discomfort from the new implants. I have some bruising, 
and he tells me that it will get worse before better, but 
that's ok. The shape is so much better. I know for a fact
 that there is a medicare number for these proceedures. 
I don't think  Cope works out of a public hospital, but I 
know that Megan Hassell is excellent and she does a 
public list from North Shore Hospital. I believe her 
waiting list for public is about a year. She also does a 
private list at North Shore Private and Hunters hill. I 
have seen her work for both TRAM flap and implants 
and it is excellent. I also saw Dr David Pennington for a 
consult and he works from RPA. Again, I've seen his 
work and I would have been happy to have him as my 
surgeon as well. His specialty is the DIEP, but I decided to go with implants in the end. My out of pocket surgeon 
fees for this procedure Is $8000. i did have a double 
reconstruction though. There will also be the 
anaesthetist bill and one for the Drs accomplice. 
I have also heard that Dr Lam also does this procedure through Westmead hospital and he too is excellent. The 
wait for him is also about 12 months. Good luck with 
your research. I'm so very happy that I decided to go 
ahead with this. I will have nipples done in about 3 
months once everything settles down. Love Chris xx

melmax73 · Answer

Hi chris,
Did you have radiation at all. Im seeking a ps now as my herceptin is nearly finished. I have also had mastectomy and radiation.&nbsp;
Mel

Forum Discussion

Reconstructive Surgery

Recent Discussions

Finding a surgeon for reconstruction & public vs private

Expander to implant surgery

Implant Reconstruction After Radiation

Leg Flap (without muscle) bilateral reconstruction

Unilateral mastectomy with delayed reconstruction