Miami Rhapsody

Treatment Provider

Provider Review

• 18 Feb 2018

My story began in February 2015 when some suspicious calcifications were found during my annual mammogram. Then, few weeks later, I received biopsy results with confirmed diagnosis: cancer in my left breast. Then numerous tests, office visits, consultations, and ultimately surgeries. My breast surgeon wanted to preserve my breast thus he offered to start with lumpectomy. Well...I had three. You couldn’t possibly asked for better looking incisions. Almost as I never had anything. From cosmetic point of you. However, it was impossible to get clean margins. Therefore, I had only one choice- mastectomy. I opted for double, right side as preventive. While I had this odyssey with lumpectomies I started contemplating potential reconstruction. I rejected the idea of implants immediately. Then the only choice left was DIEP reconstruction which was not an option either once I learned the magnitude of the surgery itself and its recovery afterwards. I remember the moment when I came across the name of plastic surgeon in Miami, Dr. Roger Khouri, who was doing breast reconstruction by autologous fat transfer. The idea that you will carry your own fat taken during liposuction instead of cold foreign objects as implants seemed more than tempting. Upon my request, my local breast surgeon talked himself to Dr. Khouri the day prior to my scheduled double mastectomy. Dr. Khouri instructed him what should be done during the surgery in case I pursue fat grafting reconstruction in Miami later. What a team of doctors I’ve got. Being both extremely busy and very well world known, they found the time to discuss my case. How often does that happen these days?.... Well..... few months later, in September 2015, two months after healed mastectomy, my Miami story began when I first met Dr. Khouri. Plastic Surgeon with brilliant mind, golden hands and compassionate heart! An artist with constant desire to change and improve! But most importantly, to help women to look as natural as possible after breast cancer surgeries/treatments. The doctor who is passionately in love with his work. Dr.Khouri developed the plan for my surgeries assuming there will be 3-4 total. My first was in September 2015. Dr. Khouri sculpted my breasts by placing RAFT, adding a small implant which had to hold the shape and filling the rest with my own fat. Since then my Miami rhapsody began. My body refused to cooperate. The implants were rejected from my body, even after trying the second time with a smaller size. My own body just decided to ruin Dr. Khouri's original plan. So what would any well-known, respectable arrogant surgeon would say to the patient? -Sorry, but your body just can't handle it, please opt for DIEP reconstruction. Yeah, any arrogant surgeon. But NOT Dr. Khouri. He started thinking of something else, how to sculpt my breast with having no support from anything. The new chapter began and numerous surgeries as well. Pain, disappointment, lack of hope were my friends back then. But not a single thought of quitting. Same with Dr.Khouri. Always cheerful, positive, with contagious laugh, creative, exploring fresh ideas and inventing breakthrough techniques. Always thinking of something new, something better..... To be fair, I was very compliant patient, listening and doing every little thing I was instructed. I was wearing Brava, trying to do everything possible to achieve maximum expansion (though my body didn't help me much with that either). I've had 8 surgeries total. The last one was in November 2017. As of now, I am looking at myself and still can't believe what I see. Can't really comprehend how it was possible. How surgeon's magic hands and deep desire to make it work, could deliver that.... To say I am grateful is not to say anything. Dr.Khouri, ONE and ONLY, with his vision, his skills, his tenacity (I’ve seen him starting last surgery @ 8pm, having first one @ 9:00am) and ultimately his personal mission to help women to get their life back, looking as good as possible. Well....And it is another person in Dr. Khouri's office. Blanca Lara. His registered nurse, his right hand. I can’t even tell you how many times I called her, FaceTime, texts, emails....Her replies were unbelievably quick. She is knowledgeable, professional, kind, very caring, warm person. In the most challenging moments of this journey, Blanca has always been there for me with her expert advice and moral support. So here I am now. 3 years and 8 surgeries later. I don't know how I will look in a month, half a year, years from now. Most likely the breasts will change alone with my body changes. It still hurts as my skin, tissue and muscles continue their recovery and adjustment to their new shape and functions. But I feel that I did the right thing which would never happen if there is no Dr. Khouri in this world.