Patient

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Meet

Carin

Meet

Carin


I am married and a mom of two kids; one in college and one in high school. I am an attorney, representing health care providers throughout the pacific northwest.  I love to workout  and spend time with my dogs and family.

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How did you find your surgeon? What were the specific reasons you chose him or her over other providers? 

When it was determined that I would need a double mastectomy, I knew that I wanted breast reconstruction. My breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Crown, told me about Dr. Wei and said that she did “beautiful work.” She explained that she and Dr. Wei could work together to achieve the results that I wanted. Dr. Crown called Dr. Wei and arranged an appointment for me to meet with her.

When I met with Dr. Wei, she explained all of the options for reconstruction. She was so professional, patient, and knowledgeable. It was comforting to get this information early on in my cancer treatment. We met several times before surgery to answer questions and make sure I was comfortable with the procedure that I chose. I felt confident that Dr. Wei had the expertise to get excellent results.

Dr. Wei also referred me to a breast reconstruction group consisting of former and current patients in her office, that meets once a month. There, I was able to speak with other women who had gone through different types of reconstruction. That group was very helpful in confirming what type of reconstruction would be best for me. It was also reassuring to meet other women who were successfully on the other side of breast cancer treatment.

What type of procedure did you have and why did you decide to have this procedure? 

I had a double mastectomy with breast reconstruction using implants.

Describe your surgical experience and recovery. 

Dr. Wei performed the first step of reconstruction (inserting expanders) at the time of my double mastectomy. Both my breast cancer surgeon and Dr. Wei were involved the same surgery, side by side. This saved me from having to undergo an extra surgery. My recovery was much easier than I expected. I had minimal pain, but I was tired and moved slowly for a while. I was able to go on short walks, increasing my endurance day by day. Overall, the recovery was very manageable.

What were your fears about having this procedure and how did your surgeon help you overcome them? 

I had no fears about breast reconstruction. I knew I was in great hands with Dr. Wei and felt confident she would be able to get me to as close to perfect as possible.

Describe why you are happy you chose this procedure. How has it positively impacted your life? Your self-esteem?

My results speak for themselves. With Dr. Wei’s brilliance and expertise, I look like myself. No one would look at me and think that I had breast reconstruction after a double mastectomy. In fact, my reconstruction was one of the few silver linings on a very difficult experience that no one wants to go through. I am grateful for Dr. Wei and the excellent outcome she achieved. The surgery allowed me to feel and look like myself. It was the last step to putting myself back together after months of breast cancer treatment.

Tell us specifically about why you are happy you chose the surgeon you did? Describe his/her most outstanding qualities. 

Dr. Wei is patient, thorough, and kind and she is happy to take as much time as you need to answer questions. She is exceptionally knowledgeable on breast cancer reconstruction. I always felt confident that I was in excellent hands. Between Dr. Wei, my breast cancer surgeon, and oncologist, I had the dream team, all of who happen to be women. I knew that Dr. Wei would get the best results possible, and she did. The results far exceeded my expectations.

How did our staff support you in your surgical experience?

The entire Polyclinic Plastic Surgery staff was wonderful!

Do you have any advice for others who may be considering this procedure? 

Everyone is different. Take your time to find out which procedure is best for you. Dr. Wei will spend as much time as you need to explain your options. I found the breast cancer reconstruction group that is organized through the Polyclinic Plastic Surgery Center to be very helpful.


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