DR. JAMES CHAO, MD, FACS: What They Don't Tell You About Breast Cancer Surgery

Welcome to MENO™ with Jacqueline Buckingham, the definitive destination for perimenopause, menopause, and everything on The Pause Spectrum™.  Dr. James Chao, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon, reconstructive surgeon, and microsurgeon, who has performed thousands of reconstructive breast surgeries. A staunch proponent for the furtherance of Women's Sexual Health, Dr. Chao trained at Stanford University, NYU Medical School, and is a Professor Emeritus of Plastic Surgery at UC San Diego. Dr. Chao is the CEO of Prime Plastic Surgery, Prime Med Spa, and FEM MD. He makes an appearance alongside @drdubrow + @drpaulnassif on @botchedtv in a complex case this season. As a fellowship-trained hand and microvascular surgeon who specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Chao is something of a polymath, to say the least, with specialties in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery, women's sexual health surgery + the development of new technologies in the field of plastic surgery.⁠ Dr. Chao wants women to know that we are not alone and we have options when it comes to breast reconstruction after breast cancer. Here is what we talk about on this show: The pros and cons of Autologous vs. Prosthetic surgery: AKA using your own tissue vs. getting breast implants. We discuss the microsurgical techniques that are involved in autologous reconstruction, and how important it is to pick the right surgeon with any option you choose. We talk about the TRAM flap surgery vs. the newer DIEP flap surgery, how these procedures are done, where the tissue is taken from, and who is a candidate for them. We also talk about going flat which is choosing not to reconstruct a breast at all. We get into whether to reconstruct both breasts if only one is affected, tissue expanders, a 1 part surgery vs a 2 part surgery. We discuss the more common prosthetic route, which is using implants to reconstruct the breast, the pros and cons, the types of implants, and cutting-edge digital surgery available to assist in making the choice that is best for you. We talk about the importance of choosing a team you have confidence in including the surgeon who removes breast cancer, the medical oncologist, and the surgeon who reconstructs the breast(s). We talk about resources for looking into board certification and how necessary it is to like your surgeon. When facing cancer, women are thinking more about surviving the disease instead of how their breasts going to look after the fact. However, this is important to our sexual health and overall quality of life. One out of every 8 American women will get the diagnosis, but there is over 95% chance that you will survive it if it's caught early, so get your mammogram! For checking board certification: The American Board of Plastic Surgery https://www.abplasticsurgery.org/ American Society of Plastic Surgeons https://www.plasticsurgery.org/ Support Groups: American Cancer Society https://donate.cancer.org/ ⁠ Get early access to MENO™ Verified Providers, Products, and Procedures, and start Pause Planning™at ⁠joinmeno.com⁠  Pausing or not. Start here.  IG ⁠@join.meno⁠ TT ⁠@join.meno ⁠ YT ⁠@join.meno⁠ For Status Updates, MENO™ Motivation, and Provider exclusives: IG ⁠@jacquelinebuckingham⁠ LI ⁠@jacquelinebuckingham⁠ Welcome to MENO. You have arrived. ----- Jacqueline  Disclaimer: MENO™ with Jacqueline Buckingham is for general information and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine in any way. The show does not constitute professional health care services or medical advice. No doctor/patient relationship is formed as a result of this podcast. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user's own risk. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard getting medical advice for any such medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any conditions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices