Great Choice for Me!

I am at the beginning stages of the breast reconstruction process. I met Dr. Rao when I was deciding between a lumpectomy with a breast reduction or bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction to mitigate future risk. I was very afraid of the mastectomy and really had no idea the role that plastic surgery plays in the process. He sat down with me and really listened to my concerns and then showed me numerous photos of outcomes of plastic surgery with mastectomies so that I would have a sense of the possibilities if I went with that option. I was amazed and so encouraged by the potential of having reconstructed breasts after a mastectomy. I don't think he knows how much he helped me to visualize an aesthetically positive future with a bilateral mastectomy, which I knew in my heart would be a better preventative path given my history. During this time when he patiently went through the options, he gave me hope. I will always be grateful to him for increasing my awareness in this manner. You can tell in talking with Dr. Rao that he is both a very skilled technical surgeon and is also aiming for the best aesthetically pleasing outcome. I really like that combination because reconstruction is both a technical and artistic process. After my mastectomy and tissue expanders surgery I experienced an unusual event with a hematoma. Dr. Rao saw me right away, and operated as soon as possible on the same day to quickly resolve the hematoma. He was so responsive and on top of it that it never became a major or ongoing issue for me. I got to experience first-hand his level of responsiveness, which confirms my confidence in him as a surgeon. Another sense of Dr. Rao I get is that he is a collaborator and communicator. He collaborates closely with the cancer surgeon, which is really important, he collaborates and communicates closely with you as a patient, and with the nurses and staff in his office. Like him his nurses are both technically competent and very good educators. His nurse navigator is extremely helpful with scheduling, insurance coverage and making you feel confident that they will work everything out on your behalf. Everyone is very friendly and helpful, which creates a relaxing environment despite the medical procedures. While I am on the beginning part of this reconstruction journey, my sense is that the whole process takes awhile, and you have to go through numerous steps to get a good outcome so you are in a long-term partnership with your plastic surgeon. I am very happy to be partnered with Dr. Rao for his technical skill both mechanically and aesthetically, his approachable, friendly and responsive style, and the fact that he leads his whole operation with the goal of the best possible outcome for you as a patient. I appreciate him and his staff very much! Great choice for me!