Double Mastectomy W/ Recon. Tissue Expanders - Springfield, MA

Had mastectomy with amazing Breast surgeon, had reconstruction with Dr Johnson (tissue expanders placed with allomax, & 4 drains- 2 on each side). Got cellulitis after new drain placed to remove seromas- 1st drain wasn't placed right- so needed a new one put in.
Stayed a week in hospital getting rid of cellulitis on IV meds. Afraid expanders would come out, but luckily infection was corrected.
Love the staff, especially her PA Kristina. Staff is courteous, kind, caring, & office is beautiful! Easy to see Dr or nurse if complications arise. Dr called me herself to check on me in between operations when I had the Cellulitus from new drain placement.
Looking forward to my Tissue Expander fills in a month or so (have had drain for a total of 41 days today) and getting drain removed this coming week (will have had drain for total of 46 days). Will let body heal & then after 5-8 weeks will get my first expansion fill.
She keeps your best interest in mind. She's direct, let's you know what she needs to do, & does what she feels is necessary, while keeping your thoughts and feelings in mind.
I recommend her to other patients, even with the cellulitis and hospitalization I had. She is very much on top of her game & knows what to do for emergent issues.

Here are my pics of what I look like with and w/out a sports bra post-op 1 week after surgery! I went direct to implants after my tissue expander on left side ruptured at only 160cc's full, from severe scarring from cellulitis (had a drain for 45 days).
I decided to show my face, because my prayer is to help educate others about nipple sparing double mastectomy and tissue expanders and implants. I started my process of the mastectomy on 9/23/14 (60cc's of saline placed into expanders)~ had a seroma develop on left side, so had a new drain placed which caused redness & swelling....... Hospitalized with cellulitis on 10/20/14 for 7 days, then received 2 fills into my tissue expanders of only 50cc's each of saline until I awoke on 1/18/15 with a completely flat left side :'( I had ruptured...... Emergency surgery scheduled for 1/22/15 for new direct-to-implants and was able to have surgeon fit Sientra Smooth Moderate Profile 320cc into each side (highly cohesive gel). I was hoping for larger, hoped for high profile, wished for at least 375cc, for cleavage, but am happy with my outcome. I finally can look down and see boobies again after months of no chest! Lol. ;)
I'm praying my journey helps others and if you are in my area, I pray you go see Dr. Melissa Johnson & Staff! They are AMAZING!

Marie J Mello

I had my new silicone-gel- Mentor Siltex textured 440cc’s places OVER the muscles on each side in June 2016. They took my hideous ones out from under & places the beautiful ones on. I literally felt & looked like a brand new woman!! I still do. I was planning on having one fixed 6-8 months later, but I’m so happy with my life-like breasts that I don’t even want to tamper with them. I finally found my “forever boobs” lol. Pre-pectoral implants was exactly what I needed, since my old implants and the 4 times prior surgeries- my implants would literally squish sideways under my armpits and flatten if I slightly moved or used my arms at all. How embarrassing!
These are beautiful, well deserved, and 2 years later, they’re going to be still looking brand new. Do they have flaws? Yes...I have a strange serum leaking out of one- was diagnosed with this strange little pinhole (I’ll take a picture of it & show you all- I’ve never heard of anyone else having this, nor have the Drs) and sticky thin clear yellow fluid leaks out when pressed- the tiny hole is on my skin near my nipple...but I had a mastectomy and only have nipples and implants in there. Diagnosed with a seroma inside, awaiting results of the large bacterial tests that take several days to come back, just a precaution since I’ve been sick. But, other than that, a leaky boob, lol, I’m VERY happy. ???? I need to get antibiotics or some type of cure so I can keep these beauties....NO MORE SURGERY until the 10 Year Point. I’m living homeopathic and natural these days, since my hysterectomy. Life is filled with too much beauty and love to be stuck in bed in pain. It’s time to shine like a teenager again. ????
I feel so blessed that my surgeon- Dr Pranay Parikh was INCREDIBLE and a mastermind of a man to come up with such an incredible idea to help me get the look I’ve always desired. He helped me feel like a confident woman again. I look in the mirror proudly at myself. He did AMAZING scar revision, made my hideous, unsightly scars into thin, smaller scars! He’s truly unbelievable at how OCD he is and that which causes pure PERFECTION! I will always be grateful for the excellence he gave.
Coming from the emergency room this evening reminded me of my old reviews. My old hideous implants as my journey had just begun- now? I’m here again with wonderful news. 2 years later flourishing. It’s a beautiful update. ?? I couldn’t be more thankful to my amazing surgeon & nurse.
SHOUTOUT TO DR PARIKH. ???? Keep up the great work on mastectomy patients!! You are amazing.