Dr. Nan - interesting plastics discussion

Hi everyone.  It has been ages since I posted, but I do check in and read every few days.  I am doing great, just incredibly busy with life.  Working extra hard these days due job cir****tances and putting extra hours in to pay for a daughter in univerisity (single mom...paying the whole shot myself).

Anyway...I met with Dr. Nan today about getting a breast reconstruction and panni removal done.  We had a very interesting discussion that I wanted to share with all of you in case anyone has any ideas on how to make it happen.

As many of you are probably aware, Dr. Nandagopal (usually called Dr. Nan or Dr. Nanda) has worked with bariatric patients extensively and is often recommended on this board.  When he asked me how I heard about him I told him through OH. 

He said he would be very interested in working directly with the Bariatric centres (or even just one centre) to do all the of the gastric bypass patients.  He said he would love to be in their office meeting the patients and working as part of the team, all under OHIP.  He even said that if he were to have a "contract" (my word, not his...but that was the essence of what he was saying) with the Bariatric centre (or the government) then he would even be willing to go entirely through OHIP (for those that qualify) and not charge any additional fees for the "upgrades" like a tummy tuck.  He would do them for free (although additional hospital costs would be out of his control).  He said people who don't qualify for OHIP (or for surgeries that don't qualify like arms) might still be able to see him at his regular office for self pay surgeries.

He said he has mentioned the idea to some of the surgeons and they think it is a great idea, but they don't make those decisions.

He was very enthusiastic about changing his practice to incorporate mostly bariatric patients and he clearly has the skill required for working with our skin or he wouldn't be so highly recommended on this site.

Just thought I would share our conversation.  Really not sure if there is any way to advocate for something like this, but I thought I would put the idea out there in case anyone has any thoughts...

Have a great evening!

Tracy

Hi Tracy,
I am early out 4.5 months to be exact. I am sure I will need plastic at some point. I was just curious where is Dr Nan located? Do you have contact info for him? Just curious
Thanks
Leslie

PS your chat with Dr Nan sounds as if it was very positive

He is in Scarboro (out of Scarboro general hospital)
He is a GREAT surgeon and many people have gone to him. I had a consult with him 2yrs ago (I was only 6months out) .. he said it was best to wait at least until 18 months out of wls. I an planning to have my plastics in the next yr... only because my fiance and I just bought a house and I want to wait until after we are married (that is happening in Aug)

This conversation goes around every so often on this board! Its hopeful news but the surgeons need to get together and approach the hospitals and governing boards to get this kind of thing moving....so far nothing has happened!

It sounds to me like they are no further along then they ever have been! Best we can do is keep suggesting OH'rs to seek known and trusted surgeons!

Good luck and thanks for sharing!

Hi Tracy,

 

I saw Dr Nanda in mid january and found him very informative, and very nice to speak with. I felt so good after the consult. After checking me all out he said that he would send in for ohip approval of a panniculectomy and I would need to self pay for a breast lift. Ohip will cover a breast reduction under certain cir****tances but I didnt have enough tissue left to really want more reduction. All I needed was for the excess skin to be removed and what is left to be lifted. As a tall woman who always had boobs I didnt really want to go down to small boobs. I am pretty much 2 tube socks of skin and a little bit of fat swishing around inside (usually lands in my armpits at night). Thank god for push up bras. He suggested that I get a second quote which I did by having Dr Hagens office send my referral to a west end toronto plastic surgeon (Dr Daniel Martin).

Dr Martin was very nice and made the same recommendation and sent in to ohip as well. Both panni requests came back approved. Dr Martin works out of humber church street and his surgical wait time once approved is about 2 months. Dr Nanda on the other hand has a waiting list of over a year. He is a very popular surgeon especially with bariatric patients. He is very experienced with our stretched out scarred skin. I am not saying anything negative about Dr Martin especially as a friend of mine is using him soon it is just that he seemed more expensive but then again there is less of a wait time. I am not in too much of a rush as I have had spine fusion 8 months ago and are waiting to get both my knees replaced, But if I had the cash available and wanted the plastics asap it would have been available with Dr Martin.

 

I am going back to see dr nanda on april 24th and hopefully there will be something available in less than a year. I would like to get this belly removed before I get my knees done. He is definately my preferred surgeon. I felt very comfortable with him and trusted his experience.

My surgeon in London also does lots of Bariatric patients and is on the referral list in the Bariatric Centres although they seem to lose the list a lot. It's just not high on their priority list. OHIP is just so hit or miss on whether they approve or not. No way one surgeon can be everywhere and do everyone.

 

Linda

 

If you are flexible with dates get on the waiting list. I had surgery in November that was originally scheduled for March. I am very pleased with Dr. Nanda, and would recommend him to anyone. I had a fleur de lis TT and breast lift. Scaring is fantastic and happy with outcome.

 

 

It's wonderful that a plastic surgeon is so willing to offer his services ad work with the health care program...I also have a wonderful plastic surgeon Dr. Sarah Wong and I chose her because of her experience with women and bariatric patients.