54 year old breast cancer patient with single mastectomy/ bilateral, silicone implant reconstruction/augmentation - Austin, TX

When you learn that you have breast cancer you get on a journey that involves a lot of education. The first part is to understand options to make yourself cancer-free. The second part is to eventually put yourself back together so that you can feel good about how you will look after a few surgeries. It is scary, overwhelming and the most important thing is to have complete confidence in who will be treating you. I was lucky enough to be referred to Dr. Whitfield and everyone in his office through friends. I had appointments with more than one surgeon to fully understand my options. I could not be more satisfied with both the long process that is entailed in reconstructive surgery and the final outcome. Plastic surgery is tricky and takes a very skilled staff to deal with both the physical challenges and the emotional component of dealing with breast cancer patients. Both Dr. Whitfield and his PA, Rebecca Risher were clear and did a good job of educating me in what to expect along the way. It's complicated and until you are thrust into the world of breast reconstruction you will never know what is entailed. I would strongly recommend doing the digital photo imaging that allows you to see, before surgery, how you will pretty much end up looking.
The process took many months and many visits. For women who are not dealing with breast cancer but are seeking to improve their breasts with augmentation, do it! That is what I chose to do (on my non-surgical side) and I could not be happier with how I look now. Actually, it's better than before my diagnosis. So don't wait for a cancer diagnosis to improve your facade. I was the last person in the world to ever consider plastic surgery and now I understand why women would augment their breasts for cosmetic reasons.
By the way, the entire staff is great to deal with and the artwork throughout the office reflects their attitude of wellness. I'd strongly recommend this doctor and the office to anyone.

Last updated by sobena on April 1, 2016