Reconstruction After Staph Infection. Midvale, UT

I had a breast augmentation revision surgery in December of 2014 to remove 15 year old 600cc mentor saline round high profile implants and replace them with 600cc mentor silicone round mod profile implants. Two weeks post op, I was back in surgery because my left breast had become extremely swollen, hard & red. My surgeon planned do exploratory surgery, drain some fluid & stitch me up. He assured me everything would be fine. The day of the surgery I told my surgeon I had a very strong feeling the left implant needed to be removed. He assured me again that wouldn't be necessary. As strange as it may sound, when I woke up from surgery with no left implant, I was relieved! At my follow up my surgeon told me when he opened me up he discovered I had a severe infection causing a capsular contraction in my left breast. A week later my test results came back, I had tested positive for staph epidermis. My surgeon said it would be 4 months before I could have a new implant placed& I would have to pay for that new implant. Unfortunately for me, Dr. Reuben was NOT my original plastic surgeon. As time passed, I found my original plastic surgeon to be very aloof and condescending which did nothing to assuage my fears. I was told to ‘put bird seed in a baggy and place it in my bra’ to replace my left breast. I had expressed my concerns to him that I felt my right implant was bottoming out & asked my surgeon if he could repair the right implant when he put the left implant back in. He told me that would not be possible because my right breast was “as good as it gets.” After several discouraging follow up appointments it was quite obvious that my end result was not going to be something I could live with no matter how long I waited.

Thus, I began a search for someone to help me put the pieces back together again and feel some semblance of normal. I knew enough about reconstruction revisions - thanks to the wonderful women of realself.com - that I wasn’t hoping for perfection, just a pain free result that I no longer had to camouflage each and every day.

I met with 12 board certified plastic surgeons. Let me save everyone in or around the Salt Lake City area a lot of time and trouble, and tell you that Dr. Brian Reuben changed everything for me. It is difficult enough to find someone who specializes in cancer reconstruction, and is willing to meet with you if you have not had a mastectomy, let alone someone who will attempt to correct another plastic surgeon’s surgical ineptitude. From our first consultation, Dr. Reuben was kind, considerate, and listened to me and my concerns. Together we worked out a plan to resolve my asymmetry, bottoming out, and the rippling. For the first time, I felt as though my needs were relevant and I was very much involved in my own revision surgery.

The procedure was early on a Monday. Dr. Reuben had 3 different styles & sizes of implants available to choose from. During the surgery he used sizers to determine which style/size to use for me. NONE of the other surgeons I met with in Utah use this method. He also uses the Keller Funnel method which allows implantation of silicone gel breast implants via a no-touch technique. Dr. Reuben selected Allergan Natrelle 410 FF 595cc’s. He used Strattice to create an internal bra. And also placed a drain on both sides which I would have for 7-10 days. After the surgery Dr. Reuben explained how my left breast was severely scarred down & proved to be a challenging task however he felt confident I would have a "very pretty result" after everything healed. By Noon I was home with minimal pain and discomfort. I was impressed with the simplicity of the drains & how precise & clean the incisions were. My drains were removed 9 days later during a very simple in office procedure. I was able to discontinue my heavy pain medication that same day. I was able to return to the gym after 4 weeks.

For a very long time I wasn’t sure how I was ever going to feel normal again. I am finally and undeniably happy. After an incredibly long 10 months of pain and disappointment, I’ve been resurrected by Dr. Brian Reuben. I am 6 months post op & I am delighted to say that I had ended up with AWESOME! I am finally at peace with my own body. Do yourself a favor and call his office now. You will never regret it.