DALLAS, TEXAS -
It's hard to believe, but seven months ago Jennifer Jablon had a preventative double mastectomy. She has a family history of breast cancer and genetic testing indicated she would eventually wind up with cancer to,so at 36 years of age, she opted for Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator surgery. Jennifer says that when she woke up, she was amazed.
"I was shocked that they looked as good as they did coming out, you know, they are obviously not the same as before, but it wasn't emotional to come out and see what I had." Says Jennifer.
Surgeons remove the breasts and then reconstruct them with skin and fat from the stomach, then reattach blood vessels to the relocated tissue. The surgery took 12 hours, but Jennifer went to sleep with breasts and woke up with breasts. She says she was also relieved.
"I didn't realize how much emotional weight I was carrying around, worrying about getting cancer until I woke up and it was like okay, the hard part is done, now all I have to do is heal from this and I don't have to worry about it anymore." Says Jennifer.
UT Southwestern plastic surgeon Dr. Michel Saint-Cyr operated Jennifer, he's 1 of only 40 surgeons in the United States that performs the procedure. Dr. Saint-Cyr says the one stop procedure helps women recover physically and emotionally.
"Breast cancer is traumatic for anybody, if they wake up with less of a self image loss, it's better for their final outcome." Says Dr. Saint-Cyr.
The procedure isn't for everyone, blood vessels need to be large enough, but the complex surgery preserves muscle for quicker recovery and less pain. Jennifer say she also lost two inches off her waist, but what she's gained is more important than what she lost. Before the the procedure doctors told her she had an 85% chance of getting breast cancer, today, it's 1%.
"If I had been diagnosed with breast cancer, they would have taken them anyway. This way the mastectomy was under my terms and in my way and in my time." Says Jennifer.
The surgery requires two other minor procedures. Jennifer's insurance paid for the surgery.
"I was shocked that they looked as good as they did coming out, you know, they are obviously not the same as before, but it wasn't emotional to come out and see what I had." Says Jennifer.
Surgeons remove the breasts and then reconstruct them with skin and fat from the stomach, then reattach blood vessels to the relocated tissue. The surgery took 12 hours, but Jennifer went to sleep with breasts and woke up with breasts. She says she was also relieved.
"I didn't realize how much emotional weight I was carrying around, worrying about getting cancer until I woke up and it was like okay, the hard part is done, now all I have to do is heal from this and I don't have to worry about it anymore." Says Jennifer.
UT Southwestern plastic surgeon Dr. Michel Saint-Cyr operated Jennifer, he's 1 of only 40 surgeons in the United States that performs the procedure. Dr. Saint-Cyr says the one stop procedure helps women recover physically and emotionally.
"Breast cancer is traumatic for anybody, if they wake up with less of a self image loss, it's better for their final outcome." Says Dr. Saint-Cyr.
The procedure isn't for everyone, blood vessels need to be large enough, but the complex surgery preserves muscle for quicker recovery and less pain. Jennifer say she also lost two inches off her waist, but what she's gained is more important than what she lost. Before the the procedure doctors told her she had an 85% chance of getting breast cancer, today, it's 1%.
"If I had been diagnosed with breast cancer, they would have taken them anyway. This way the mastectomy was under my terms and in my way and in my time." Says Jennifer.
The surgery requires two other minor procedures. Jennifer's insurance paid for the surgery.
