New information of popular institutions for breast reconstruction surgery in New York City!
Breast reconstruction surgery is a life - changing option for many women who have undergone mastectomies due to breast cancer or other medical reasons. In New York City, several institutions stand out for their expertise, advanced techniques, and patient - centered care. This article will provide in - depth information about some of the popular institutions offering breast reconstruction surgery in the city.
Weill Cornell Medicine
Location and Contact
Weill Cornell Medicine has multiple locations on the Upper East Side. One is at 525 East 68th Street, Starr 8, New York, NY 10065, and the other is at 425 East 61st Street, 10th floor, New York, NY 10065. You can call them at (646) 962 - 4210.
Advantages
- Exemplary Surgeons: The surgeons are leaders in plastic and reconstructive surgery. They have the expertise to handle complex cases and provide high - quality care. For example, nipple - sparing mastectomies with concurrent reconstruction have been performed at Weill Cornell Medicine for the past 20 years, positioning them as leaders in this technique.
- Individualized Care: They understand that each patient's body is unique. Plastic and reconstructive surgeons are able to reconstruct the breast according to each patient's wishes, ensuring a personalized approach.
- Multidisciplinary Team: The plastic and reproductive surgeons are part of the Weill Cornell Medicine Breast Center, which includes oncologists, geneticists, and nurses specializing in breast cancer care. This collaborative approach helps patients achieve optimal health and well - being.
- Focus on Comfort: The team prioritizes patient comfort at every step. Before surgery, patients have the opportunity to ask questions and understand the procedure. In state - of - the - art surgical suites, the latest anesthetics and medications are used to facilitate a quicker recovery.
Breast Reconstruction Options
| Reconstruction Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Autologous Reconstruction | Uses the patient's own tissue from areas like the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks. Nerves can be reconstructed to increase sensory recovery in the breasts. A novel reinnervation procedure can be performed during reconstruction, which takes about 20 minutes. Reconnecting a nerve in the abdominal flap to a nerve in the chest can improve patient quality of life. |
| Breast Innervation during Implant Reconstruction | The surgeons developed a new technique where during mastectomy, the nerves that supply the skin and nipple are preserved and reconnected to the breast skin and nipple, improving sensation and patient quality of life. |
| DIEP Flap Reconstruction | Uses a flap of complete tissue from the abdomen. The artery involved is the deep inferior epigastric perforator artery. This procedure creates a slimmer abdomen and more natural - looking and feeling breasts. |
| Implant - Based Reconstruction | Utilizes both saline and silicone breast implants from all implant manufacturers based on the patient's clinical needs. Current practice guidelines discourage the use of textured implants, and Weill Cornell Medicine has pioneered techniques such as direct - to - implant reconstruction and tissue expander reconstruction without the use of drains. |
Mount Sinai
Expert Guidance
If a woman is planning to have a mastectomy and is considering breast reconstructive surgery, Mount Sinai's expert plastic surgeons are there to help. They assist patients in thinking through issues such as whether to have reconstruction, when to have it, and what type to choose.
Decision - Making Process
- Choosing Reconstruction: Some women choose reconstruction to look balanced in clothing, feel comfortable with their body shape, or avoid wearing a prosthesis. Others may opt not to have reconstruction. The breast surgeons listen to the patients' concerns and needs and help them navigate the options.
- Timing of Reconstruction: Patients can choose immediate reconstruction (if medically possible) after mastectomy or wait. Immediate reconstruction means fewer surgical procedures, often only one set of surgical scars, and one time frame for combined healing. It also allows the remaining breast skin to stay stretched to the original size and shape. On the other hand, some patients may prefer to give their body time to heal before reconstruction.
- Type of Reconstruction: Patients need to decide between using implants or their body's own tissue. Factors to consider include overall health, tumor size and location, breast size, other medical or surgical treatments, body shape, and recovery speed.
New Robotic Surgery
Mount Sinai offers new robotic surgery for breast cancer survivors, which may provide more precise and minimally invasive options for breast reconstruction.
New York Group for Plastic Surgery
Experienced Surgeons
Dr. Salzberg and Dr. Jacobs have spent decades perfecting their breast reconstruction techniques. Dr. C. Andrew Salzberg is the pioneer of the direct - to - implant, or “one step,” breast reconstruction procedure. Dr. Jordan M.S. Jacobs specializes in DIEP flap reconstruction and other microsurgical techniques using a woman's own tissue.
Patient - Centered Care
For over 30 years, the New York Group for Plastic Surgery has provided experienced, precision reconstructive plastic surgery with a caring approach. Many women in New York City and across the country have entrusted their care to this group.
Breast Reconstruction Choices
- Whether to Reconstruct: It is a personal decision. Some patients may not want further surgeries or are not ready for reconstruction for various reasons. Most women who undergo mastectomy in their practice choose reconstructive breast surgery to feel whole and healthy again.
- Timing of Reconstruction: Can be immediate or delayed. Immediate reconstruction has advantages such as avoiding a subsequent surgery and recovery period, and not having scar tissue from the mastectomy. Delayed reconstruction may be recommended in cases of intermediate or advanced breast cancer or for patients who need more time to consider their options.
- Breast Replacement Options
- Implant Reconstruction: Uses breast implants filled with saline or silicone. If there is not enough skin and muscle to cover the implant, tissue expanders or alloderm® can be used. Advantages include aesthetic appearance and minimal surgery time, but disadvantages are capsular tissue build - up, possible rejection, and the need for a second surgery to replace the tissue expander with the implant.
- Autologous Tissue Flap Reconstruction: Such as DIEP flap surgery, which transplants live skin and fat from the abdomen. The reconstructed breast is the patient's own and lasts a lifetime. However, the surgery is longer and more complex, and there is a scar on the abdomen.
New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai
Center of Excellence
The New York Center for the Advancement of Breast Reconstruction at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is a unique center. It is led by Joshua Levine, MD, and specializes in state - of - the - art, muscle - sparing, and implant - free microsurgical breast reconstruction options for women of every body type.
Technique Pioneers
The staff includes pioneers in the deep perforator flap technique and the nipple - sparing operation, offering techniques that are often lacking at many other centers. They perform almost 150 cases of this type of reconstruction a year.
Patient Education
Despite the passing of the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act in 1998, many women are unaware of breast reconstruction benefits and surgical options. The specialists at this center provide women with all the information they need to make an educated decision about innovative surgical options.
NewYork Presbyterian
Advanced Options
NewYork Presbyterian plastic and reconstructive surgeons offer advanced breast reconstruction surgery options and techniques. They have been leaders in the evolution of breast reconstruction, especially in nipple - sparing mastectomies with concurrent reconstruction over the past 20 years.
Types of Reconstruction
- Autologous Reconstruction: Uses the patient's own body tissue from areas like the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks to reconstruct nerves and breast structure. A novel reinnervation procedure is available, which takes about 20 minutes and reconnects a nerve in the abdominal flap to a nerve in the chest.
- Breast Innervation during Implant Reconstruction: Preserves and reconnects the nerves that supply the skin and nipple during mastectomy to improve sensation.
- DIEP Flap Reconstruction: Utilizes a flap of complete tissue from the abdomen, creating a slimmer abdomen and more natural - looking breasts.
- Implant - Based Reconstruction: Surgeons use both saline and silicone breast implants from all implant manufacturers, considering the patient's clinical needs while following the current practice guidelines that discourage the use of textured implants.
Dr. Joshua Levine's Affiliated Hospitals
Hospital Affiliations
Dr. Levine has established dedicated hospital programs and expert surgical teams for state - of - the - art natural breast reconstruction. His top hospital affiliations are in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
| Location | Hospital Name | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| New York | New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mt. Sinai | Ranked among “America’s best hospitals” for nine years straight since 2006. Achieved Magnet® status for excellence in nursing services. |
| New York | Good Samaritan Hospital | Joint Commission gold seal of approval |
| New York | Northern Westchester Hospital | Listed among the “best hospitals 2013 - 14” by U.S. News & World Report |
| New Jersey | Hackensack University Medical Center | New Jersey’s #1 hospital and among the top 30 hospitals in the nation with 11 national specialty rankings in U.S. News & World Report’s 2014 - 15 best hospitals rankings. |
| New Jersey | Morristown Medical Center | One of the safest hospitals in the nation (fourteen consecutive times) and a top teaching hospital. Named among the world’s best hospitals 2022 and best hospitals for infection prevention by Newsweek. |
| New Jersey | Holy Name Medical Center | - |
| Connecticut | Greenwich Hospital | Received a five - star hospital quality rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in 2022. Won the Women’s Choice Award for one of America’s best hospitals for cancer care in 2022. Achieved the Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for six consecutive years until 2020, being among the top 15 percent of hospitals nationwide for patient experience. |
Advanced Surgical Teams
Dr. Levine builds expert surgical teams with advanced skills in natural breast reconstruction. Working with an advanced surgical team is crucial as their collective expertise and cutting - edge techniques can significantly impact patient outcomes. He trained many of the first wave of DIEP surgeons in the tri - state area, and he personally directs the specialized training of the surgical teams in each of his dedicated practice centers. When performing perforator flap breast reconstruction, he always uses a second expert microsurgeon, ensuring a higher level of safety and efficiency and allowing patients to recover quickly.
Dr. Darrick Antell
Premier Surgeon
Dr. Darrick Antell is a board - certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. He is among the most respected breast augmentation surgeons in the country, trained at Stanford and Cornell. He has been honored for his groundbreaking research and is listed in Harper's Bazaar as one of the best breast plastic surgeons in the country.
Patient - centric Approach
Dr. Antell understands the physical and emotional trauma that breast cancer survivors have endured. He works together with the patient's breast surgeon to develop a strategy for reconstruction. During the consultation, he provides a thorough explanation of the reconstruction options based on the patient's age, health, anatomy, and goals, and also walks the patient through the risks.
Breast Reconstruction Techniques
- Flap Reconstruction: Uses tissue (skin, fat, and muscle) from other areas of the body. Options include TRAM flap reconstruction, free TRAM flap, DIEP flap, tug and dug flaps (using thigh tissue), and gluteus flap (using buttock tissue). This results in the most natural - feeling breast.
- Implant - Based Reconstruction: Typically, a tissue expander is first placed under the pectoral muscle, and saline solution is gradually added to stretch the skin. After six to eight weeks, the expander is removed, and the true implant is placed. If there is enough skin, the true implant can be placed directly.
Conclusion
New York City offers a wealth of options for breast reconstruction surgery. Each institution has its own unique strengths, whether it's the expertise of the surgeons, the variety of available techniques, or the patient - centered approach. From Weill Cornell Medicine's long - standing experience in nipple - sparing mastectomies to Dr. Joshua Levine's network of high - quality affiliated hospitals, patients have access to top - notch care.
If you or someone you know is considering breast reconstruction surgery in New York City, take the time to research these institutions and consult with the experts. It's important to make an informed decision based on your individual needs and preferences. Reach out to these institutions today to schedule a consultation and start your journey towards restoration and well - being.
