There are several things that really seem to validate the rewards of being a plastic surgeon: I get to work with a diverse group of patients on a daily basis, help patients improve their self-image by achieving their personal cosmetic surgery goals, and have the opportunity to build lasting relationships – just to name a few. Through the recommendation of her surgeon and thorough research of my reputation, when Denise first came to Southern Plastic Surgery (SPS), she had successfully battled breast cancer, undergone a double mastectomy in 2012, and was ready to take on breast reconstruction to restore her breasts.
As a mother of three adult children with a passion for life, Denise knew that although she had to endure a journey that she did not choose, there was much to be thankful for. We have had the pleasure of working with Denise over the past 2 ½ years and recently caught up with her to welcome her as our January spotlight patient so she could share a bit about her breast reconstruction experience:
“My memories with Dr. Whiteman and his wonderful staff will always be with me. At the first consult, Dr. Whiteman asked me what I wanted – to which I shared what I thought I needed. He was willing to do what I wanted but he wanted the BEST for me. After a very detailed discussion on what my daily life and activities were, we settled on using tissue expanders and implants to complete my breast reconstruction (which today was the BEST choice for me and my active lifestyle).
Dr. Whiteman is very easy to talk to; he listens to everything you say and surprisingly he remembers the office discussions on the day of surgery. Today, I am EXTREMELY THRILLED WITH MY RESULTS! It has enabled me to meet so many people and to help others that have had to deal with breast cancer themselves. During my experience with the Southern Plastic Surgery team, I became a part of their family. They knew about my family just as much as I knew about their families. Even when I had to have a complete hysterectomy and was fearful that the cancer had spread from previous tests in mid-2014, Dr. Whiteman and his staff visited me. The laughter, hugs, and even tears that they shared with me during my journey are something I’ll never forget.
I learned so much from the SPS team and totally enjoyed getting to know the different variety of plastic surgery interns that Dr. Whiteman had in his office during their rotations! I would most definitely consider another plastic surgery procedure but for right now, I am enjoying taking the time to let my body heal from all the previous surgeries – but the newest Laser Lights Laser Center treatments are definitely on my bucket list. I’m enjoying life and still learning something new every day! I try to not take life for granted and pay more attention to even the small things in life.”
Denise’s SPS experience didn’t end after her breast reconstruction but continued as she chose to refine her thighs with liposuction, rejuvenate her face with laser treatments and facials, and even partnered with our in-house NESTA Weight Management Specialist, Jackie Madison and Daryl Madison, experienced ACE certified personal trainer during her recovery through their Lifestyle & Weight Management programs. It’s our philosophy to treat each of our patients as if they were our own family and enjoy getting to know them as they each go through their unique plastic surgery experiences. We hope you’ve enjoyed hearing from Denise and encourage you to check back in the coming weeks when we will be sharing more patient testimonial stories in the future.