Episode 80: Completion of DIEP Flap Surgery: Going Forth with Confidence
DiepCJourney Podcast
This is a follow up of who I spoke to after her phase one DIEP flap surgery at in San Antonio in January of 2024. I invited her back to the to share details of the completion of her breast reconstruction after phase two. She traveled back to San Antonio seven months after phase one for her phase two surgery. We talk about the following: · Communication and discussion with about your phase via a ZOOM call. · What did she pack for phase 2. · Who she traveled with for this...
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Episode 79: Medical Tattoo Artists: The Alliance of Medical Tattooing
DiepCJourney Podcast
This interview on the is with three nationally known medical tattoo artist. It will also be available on the for viewing. Our conversation today is on medical tattooing with three of the leading medical tattoo artists in the United States. I begin with the President and founder of , , a licensed and I speak to her about her vision and why she created AMT. Next is who is a registered nurse and licensed tattoo artist and is the vice-president of AMT. Last and certainly not least, is the medical tattoo artist in our beautiful city of Seattle, WA., Mr. . Eric and I are both of AMT. As a...
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Episode 78: Managing Scars Through Surgical Techniques at PRMA
DiepCJourney Podcast
We are going to discuss the topic of scars and cover several topics related to scars on this edition of the . It is understood, anyone who has surgery will have scars of some kind. There is a mechanism to how scars heal. In plastic surgery, if you think of the Greek word, plastikós (πλᾰστῐκός it means to shape or mold. Scars are a significant consideration in plastic surgery then. I invited an expert in the field to share his expertise on the topic. My guest is joined in San Antonio, Texas in 2021. Dr. Gassman completed his plastic and reconstructive surgery residency at UCLA...
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Episode 77: Nipple Reconstruction at PRMA
DiepCJourney Podcast
Do most people who have nipple reconstruction have breast reconstruction? Not necessarily. Do you think about nipple reconstruction if you’ve had breast cancer and are in a consultation for breast reconstruction? We are going to answer these questions and others on this episode of the . My guest is of in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Carpenter is passionate about utilizing her extensive expertise and experience to help transform lives through reconstructive plastic surgery. I want to point out that PRMA uses the co-surgeon model in breast reconstruction, meaning there are two...
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Episode 76: Robotic Surgery and DIEP Flap in Hawaii
DiepCJourney Podcast
How much do you know about robotic surgery for DIEP flap breast reconstruction? What areas in the U.S. are performing these types of robotic surgery for those affected by breast cancer? What if I told you robotic DIEP flaps are being performed in Hawaii? It is important to share with you surgeons I meet to provide access to care for those affected by breast cancer. Thank you for listening to the podcast to find out who these surgeons are. We are going to discuss robotic surgery and DIEP flap being performed in Hawaii with my guests on this edition of the . Be sure to watch our conversation on...
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Episode 75: Diastasis Recti and Why to Repair it During DIEP Flap
DiepCJourney Podcast
This interview is another resource provided by DiepCFoundation.org specifically providing access to care for those affected by breast cancer. The slide presentation and interview are available on the Foundation educational channel for our listeners and followers who would like to access it at . We are discussing a topic that is often discussed in my community so I reached out to my guest to share her expertise on the repair of diastasis and recognizing what a hernia or bulge might look like after autologous breast reconstruction, specifically DIEP flaps. My guest is who practices with a team...
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Episode 74: Breast Cancer & What's Right for You: Options, Planning, and Decisions
DiepCJourney Podcast
When you have cancer you become a patient, and advocate, a student, and yes, I said student. It’s like taking one of those classes at university that you must take to learn the topic, but you don’t really want to take it. Have you ever met someone in the breast cancer community, and you think to yourself, “Damn! They really did a good job of navigating this whole process.” They view their life before cancer. They view their life during diagnosis, after treatment, after surgery, and what that should look like to them. Then they got on with it. I met one of those people and we chat on...
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Ep. 73: Breast Reconstruction Surgery at Southwest Breast & Aesthetics
DiepCJourney Podcast
As promised, season five presents our listeners with interviews from experts and shares with you all your options for breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. In this episode of the the expert we interview is who collaborates with a team of surgeons at in Phoenix, Arizona. One of our goals on the podcast is to provide access to care, no matter who you choose for your breast surgery. When you dial down to autologous reconstruction, using the patients own tissue, it becomes important to research the background, skill, and collaborative team effort of the microsurgeon you choose....
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Episode 72: Stacked Flap in Breast Reconstruction for Radiated Skin and to Achieve Volume
DiepCJourney Podcast
Listeners of the are familiar with the DIEP flap breast reconstruction procedure where the abdominal skin, tissue, and underlying blood vessels are used to replace the breast tissue lost due to mastectomy after being affected by breast cancer. On this episode we are going to discuss the “” in breast reconstruction. I’m speaking with of in Phoenix, AZ. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon who is specifically trained in microsurgery. It is the specialty of microsurgery that is required to perform a stacked flap procedure. Dr. Matatov and his team perform these and why I reached out...
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Episode 71: Rori Zura of Foobs and Fitness: Exercise and Breast Cancer
DiepCJourney Podcast
My guest on this episode of the is a young woman who during the height of the COVID pandemic, at only 33 years old, became diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. Her Journey was not easy but, it is truly inspiring and motivating. She has a strong family history of distinct types of cancer. This is a quote from her website: “Tired of reactive approaches, that waited for symptoms to appear, I refused to let history repeat itself. Recognizing that others face similar challenges I knew action was needed." This quote reflects her work, her passion, and her profession. My guest is , who...
info_outlineHave ever been you curious about the networking, conversations, and education that happens among colleagues at medical conferences? Or are there topics you see online but are not aware of the stories behind the social media posts from these conferences?
I invite a returning guest to give you a behind the scenes look at one such conference, the annual conference of The American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery. We chose a few highlights and topics from the conference to share our experience so you can learn more about these rich learning events.
Here to share the highpoints and a few of our favorite topics is one of the presenters at the conference himself, Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo. He is the current president of PRMA in San Antonio, Texas who works with a team of nine microsurgeons that perform primarily tissue-based breast reconstruction for those affected by breast cancer. He is a welcome returning guest to the DiepCJourney podcast.
In addition to his microsurgical prowess, he is an entrepreneur. Dr. Chrysopoulo founded Toliman Health and is the creator of Toliman’s flagship award winning app, Breast Advocate app, the first shared decision-making app for breast cancer surgery and breast reconstruction.
He begins by highlighting the diversity of global skill represented at the conference sharing the moving moment when the “Best Case/Best Save” presentations were made. This is the most attended session at the meeting. It is a packed room. This year’s winner was an especially inspiring case of a young Ukrainian woman whose lower face was reconstructed due to a horrific shrapnel injury and repaired by Dr. Adam Maciejewski of Poland.
We touch on the keynote address from CEO and Founder of the Proximie Surgical Learning Platform System, Nadine Hachach-Haram. Dr. C points out the mission of the Proximie system is to expand surgical education and improve patient access to surgical expertise.
We revisit other topics like breast sensation, shared decision-making, and patient advocacy. Links to these topics can be found below.
Dr. C congratulates the ASRM team for putting together another impressive conference from global leaders in microsurgery. We are happy to share our experience.
Learn more about resources mentioned and topics related to the Podcast:
JAMA article on AI and chat box responses
Shared Decision-Making blog with Dr. Chrysopoulo
DiepCJourney podcasts on Breast Sensation
Connect with those mentioned in the Podcast:
Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo on LinkedIn
Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram (Plast) BEM on LinkedIn
American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery: Instagram