Aug 28 2024 30 mins
When you think about breast reconstruction do you only think about breast implants? If so, it is because many people are still choosing this option for reconstructing their breast after mastectomy. However, there are options. Using your own tissue is an option and the tissue, along with a blood source, can come from various parts of the body. Fat grafting to shape and form the breast is also an option many ask about but not all know about. This is our topic on this episode of the DiepCJourney podcast.
My guest, Dr. Eric Wimmers, is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon practicing in Hopewell, New Jersey at the Plastic Surgery Center. He is part of the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction (IFAR) network of surgeons across the U.S.
Dr. Wimmers has unique training in microsurgery and immunology. Although he operates on the entire body, his special interests are breast reconstruction, abdominal wall reconstruction, and peripheral nerve repair.
His pathway to his current practice as a microsurgeon developed over time. Dr. Wimmers shares his personal journey with us from beginning as an emergency room physician to a surgeon. Once he had exposure to the scope of plastic surgery, restoring form and function to the human body affected by trauma and disease he never looked back.
Dr. Wimmers shares the value of his surgical practice being part of the IFAR network. He points out that they are grouping up with other like-minded microsurgeons across the U.S. to tackle problems and issues patients face when they have been told there is no hope or fix. Combined resources and talent within the IFAR network are providing greater access to care for patients.
We continue our discussion with an explanation of the types of breast reconstruction available. Dr. Wimmers utilizes the tummy tissue most often to perform DIEP flap breast reconstruction. However, he points out not all patients have the excess tissue in their own body in the right places to do autologous reconstruction, meaning using the patients own tissue. He does get inquiries about fat grafting only.
Patients are interested in it for a variety of reasons. It might be that they have already had a tummy tuck. It may be that their fat distribution is in other places other than the abdomen. Most of his patients requesting fat grafting only tend to be on the smaller side and prefer a smaller size breast. He explains the fat grafting only procedure in detail in our interview. Dr. Wimmers tells us fat grafting only is a series of procedures done over time. Fat grafting is a very technique driven procedure.
Be sure to watch our interview on the DiepCFoundation Educational Channel
Connect with Dr. Eric Wimmers:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrEricWimmers/
Connect with The Institute for Advanced Reconstruction:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdvancedReconstruction
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/advancedreconstruction/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/AdvancedReconNJ