I recently formed the Healing Curve, a non-profit initiative to help women who have beaten breast cancer but are left with scars and loss of breast tissue as a result of the mastectomy that saved their lives.
Through my work as a plastic surgeon, I have seen many women who have undergone reconstructive surgeries that have left them unhappy and scarred. Although insurance providers cover the initial reconstruction after breast cancer, they often do not cover secondary surgeries for the aesthetic concerns of the patients.
Frequently, these women are left feeling and looking unnatural and are without the proper financial means for revision. These types of results can be an added emotional trauma to women who have already overcome so much to survive.
There seems to be a huge hole in the medical system that needs to be filled for women that have undergone breast reconstruction but are left with breasts that look and feel alien.
During episodes of E! Entertainment's Dr. 90210, I operated on several breast cancer survivors who had undergone prior reconstruction. After those episodes aired, I received a flood of letters from women that had similar experiences. These brave women wanted to have surgery to complete their battle with breast cancer and finally move on with their lives. All of their stories were tremendously moving and inspiring.
I wanted to start an organization to help these women who felt they had lost their bodies, their femininity, and their self-esteem due to breast cancer. These women have already been through so much with cancer itself; they deserve the best possible breast reconstruction that modern plastic surgery can offer.
In the future, I am hoping to bring other plastic surgeons on board to donate their time and talents to this great cause.
Breast cancer survivors looking for breast reconstruction can submit their stories (no longer than 500 words).
For more information, please visit the Healing Curve's web site.