Restoring Dignity After Breast Cancer

Dr. Lin and his team restored my sense of physical wholeness after my breast cancer and subsequent mastectomy. When first diagnosed six years ago, my decisions about reconstruction were made quickly and under stress. My main concern was to get the cancer out of me and I didn’t have the mental “bandwidth” to fully research and digest my options. I chose to reconstruct using a textured silicone implant, and after six years it failed, causing me pain and the risk of BiA-ALCL. I needed to get the implant out of me. This time around I had the experience and time to research my reconstruction options and chose a DIEP flap procedure because it was safer than an implant (it used my own tissue instead of a foreign material), “maintenance free” (no need to replace an implant in 10 or 20 years), and warm and soft like a real breast. I discovered Dr. Lin’s name on the “DIEP C Journey” Facebook page, a well monitored page for women who’ve had, or are considering the DIEP, to share experiences and support, and he was highly regarded by several women who had “been there.” From the moment I called his office and spoke to Stacy and met Alicia, I was impressed by the competence, compassion and professionalism of the practice, and felt reassured that Dr. Lin had surrounded himself with excellent staff that, I would come to find, reflect his high standards. Dr. Lin’s direct, kind and honest manner, considerable experience doing the complicated DIEP flap procedure (he does over 100 a year), excellent co-surgeons, very low complication rate, and images of realistic results led me to choose him for my surgery. It was the right choice. I’m most grateful that he has chosen to apply his considerable skills, talents and gifts to restoring dignity and wholeness to breast cancer survivors like me.