I need a DIEP Specialist in Sydney

Hi Trish, Just reading this now. I also live in Shdney and want a double DIEP reconstruction. I saw Dr Lam at the SAN who does the op at both hospitals. About $18K in gap expenses as a private patient or 18 months wait as a public patient as he only does one a month. I'm going with Dr Pennington who now works from Strathfield Private or Macquarie Uni Hospital. My date is August. Quite a wait as I saw him early this year. He only does one DIEP a week as its such a big op. I went to see him in Macquarie St on Chris' recommendation and am so glad I did. He put me at ease immediately and I have total confidence in him. He's very nice! Hope this helps. Or have you already had the op? I haven't finished reading this thread! Diane

Hi Trish, My breast surgeon also works at the SAN, and a colleague of your breast surgeon. Why don't you ask him who he would recommend. In the end I went with my Surgeon's recommendation. I really liked my breast surgeon, Trevor Currer, and though I checked 3 different plastic surgeons, I ended up going with one of his recommendations. I wanted him to do my mastectomy again, and in the end, decided that he would only recommend someone he was happy to work with. One of his recommendations was Charles Cope, who is really nice, and I have been thrilled with my reconstruction so far. I know that your Dr likes him too, and he does great implants, as well as TRAM flaps. Check out his very extensive web page. Your Dr may know someone who does the DIEP at the SAN,or at Westmead. They will not be recommending anyone who makes them look bad. Good luck with your searching. Love Chris xx

Thanks for the info, I will check them out and see how I go. Will post more info as it comes to hand.

Trish :)

Hi Trish,

my surgeon is Associate Professor Richard West(phone. 95197905) who is also the head of the breastscreen clinic at RPA hospital.  His rooms are just near the hospital and he works out of that hospital so would probably "go" with Dr Pennington.

There is also a lady surgeon who shares rooms with Prof West who some people I know have had.  She is Dr Cindy Mak.  I don't have her phone number but you could google it if interested.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you do as I think I am in a similar situation.

Julia

Great info but bit of a shock about the cost. I need to get the double mastectomy and double DIEP so looks like I have to start saving my pennies. I am hoping to do both surgeries at the same time so it's only one op and recovery. Sorry to hear of your complications, I wish you the best for your recovery. One other thing, my breast surgeon is Dr Michael Hughes but he only works out of the SAN and Westmead. I may need to find a breast surgeon as well if I go with Dr P, do you know any that work with Dr P? Kind regards, Trish :)

Thank you, Chris

Very helpful information.  Sorry to hear of your recent medical problems  and hope you are feeling better. 

I can't believe how expensive it is!!!!  I suppose my health fund would cover some of it.  I am thinking of also having the remaining breast off and having the double reconstruction done. 

Thanks, Julia

Hi Julia, Dr Pennington prefers to operate at RPA for the DIEP, as he has well trained staff there to look after everything. As I would have gone in as a private patient in a public hospital, he said his fee for a double DIEP was about 18K. That was actually 10K less than one of the other surgeons I visited who would have performed a TRAM flap, which is an easier procedure. That fee did not include the extra mastectomy, as usually another Dr works with the plastic surgeon to do this. He told me his preference is to do this some months after a mastectomy, as he felt this was less complicated and reduced the surgery time a bit. However, had I insisted, he would have done it at the same time. I have just had one immediate and one delayed reconstruction, and I had serious complications with my immediate one. I had a spontaneous bleed under my tissue expander last Tuesday, a day short of 3 weeks post op. Unfortuneately I was just getting ready to leave Perth (after a little holiday), for home in Sydney. Instead of the airport I went to Royal Perth Hospital, where I needed surgery to evacuate a huge 800 ml clot. I had 2 days in hospital and IV antibiotics, and a drain for a week. I'm now home and my plastic surgeon is happy. ( i had a great plastic surgeon in Perth, so very lucky ). I'm still black and blue and quite swollen, but everything is getting better quickly, and in the scheme of things has probably only put my reconstruction back about 3 weeks. I was meant to start expansions last Wednesday, but now the Dr will wait until this heals before commencing. Good luck with your choices. Love Chris xx

Hi Chris and Trish,

I am thinking DIEP also as I will be having radiotherapy.  So I will remember Dr Pennington. 

Chris, I am wondering if you know anything about his fees- presuming it has to be done as a private patient??

Thanks,

Julia

 

 

Thank you Chris for your reply, much appreciated. I will look into Dr Pennington. Good luck with your journey. Kind regards, Trish :)

Hi Trish, I have just begun my double reconstruction, but opted in the end for tissue expanders, after seeing 3 surgeons and looking at all options. As I haven't had radiotherapy, and am only small busted, for me implants were the best choice. However I was very keen on the DIEP and found an excellent Sydney surgeon who I would have complete trust in had I decided to go down that path. The Dr is Professor David Pennington from RPA, and he is an expert in this field, and has done more than any other Sydney surgeon. He is a great believer in the DIEP over the TRAM, as it preserves the stomach muscles. 2 of my friends have also had him, so I've seen first hand how good he is. Check out his web page. I was able to see him within a few weeks of ringing for an appointment. Good luck. Love Chris xxx