"Nipple-Sparing" Double Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction - Boca Raton, FL

I am a 47 yr old wife and mother of 3 boys. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at my annual mammogram (it was found with ultrasound). Based on there being several small spots in the left and suspicious areas on the right it was agreed to do a double mastectomy. Through all the inner turmoil the one thing I never had to think about was my physical appearance post surgery or painful additional reconstruction procedures. Dr. Dardano looked at my report, consulted with the mastectomy surgeon and told me immediately that they would most likely be able to save the nipples and he would do the reconstruction right then.

I was astounded. Everyone I spoke to had lost their nipples and had "expanders" for several months and another surgery for implants. Dr. Dardano is a pioneer of this procedure and I know it's because he really cares about his patients and tries to minimize the stress and pain. He even got a laugh out of me when he tossed my husband an implant and said he would love the new ones.

My surgery was 9/19/14 and took almost 7 hours between the mastectomy and then reconstruction. With the swelling and meds it was about 2 weeks before I was really able to look at myself. Even though I was warned it was still scary - my breasts were hard as a rock, swollen, scarred, bruised, etc. One nipple pointed forward and the other off to the side. One breast was at least 2 inches higher than the other.

Even though I was so happy the cancer was gone and wasn't concerned about the looks, the strange, disfigured look was frightening. Dr. Dardano talked me through it. Every week he checked me and told me everything was going as planned. I really couldn't see it.

Then something happened in December (3 months out). The swelling on the right side cleared completely and the breast slid down into place. The nipple was now forward. I looked in the mirror and teared up realizing they looked normal. Better than normal (I breast-fed 3 kids - it wasn't pretty before). By month 4 I was wearing a bathing suit. I actually had someone tell me they had heard I had breast cancer but were happy it wasn't true. No one could believe I had nipples and perfect cleavage. The most important part for me was no expansion treatments and additional surgery.

Dr. Dardano was a bright spot in a horrible and frightening situation. He is confident - and he earned that right. I hope other women find Dr. Dardano in their time of panic because the last thing you're thinking about is the reconstruction, but what a difference it makes to your confidence in the end.