DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction in Southern California

“I was referred to Dr. Nguyen through Long Beach Memorial Hospital. I didn’t know how lucky I was to be referred to Dr. Nguyen at the time, but I am incredibly grateful that he is my doctor.

Dr. Nguyen (and his team) is incredibly kind and patient, as I quickly learned while I sat through our first 2 meetings crying about how upset I was with the diagnosis. The idea of surgery was terrifying to me. I couldn’t even look at before and after pics he was trying to show me! He & his associate Coco, calmly explained my options. When the shock of it all subsided, I decided on reconstructive surgery using my own body fat to build the new breasts at the same time as the double mastectomy. It would be a very long day in the operating room, but I found it to be my best option. Turns out, my menopause belly would actually be super handy for the first time ever!

Leading up to the surgery, Dr. Nguyen and his whole team handled everything. They communicated all details clearly and often. I felt confident I was in good hands. The surgery and post op seemed to go very smoothly. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was waiting for some seriously bad pain…. it wasn’t pleasant, but it was never terribly bad. Mainly, just uncomfortable and annoying to have drains coming out each side of me.

(Side note: He took those drains out without me even knowing he was doing it! EZ PZ) Once those drains came out, and the swelling started to come down, I could see the beginnings of the fit body I used to have in my younger days. Very exciting, to say the least. It’s been a little more than 2 months since my surgery, although I still have a little swelling, I am already amazed at how great my breasts & stomach are looking!

All of the things I have mentioned above should be considered a baseline standard for any doctor. What sets Dr. Nguyen apart from the rest is how he handled a complication that was unavoidable and no fault of anyone’s. My ultra sensitive skin didn’t love the new transition. Without getting into the gory details of the actual complication, Dr. Nguyen’s response and post care for the last 8 weeks has been nothing short of spectacular. In between my weekly check-ins at his office, my husband texted Dr Nguyen pictures on a regular basis. There was a week during that time where they were texting on a daily basis. Dr Nguyen would immediately respond with compassion , and more importantly, always had a solution that would help my situation in one way or another. I could pretend, and say it’s because I am his new favorite patient, but I see him answering calls from other patients on his cell phone every time I am in the office. He is equally as helpful to them as well. I’m sure they teach “bedside manner” in medical school- but his kind of bedside manner seems to be more in his upbringing and his generally pleasant demeanor.

Saying Dr. Khang Nguyen is a talented surgeon would be an understatement. Dr. Nguyen gave me the strength and confidence to find the silver lining in a diagnosis that nobody wants to hear. Cancer…gone! Meno Bello…gone! New perky tata’s and a flat tummy here to stay!

Thank you, Dr Nguyen and team!” -Melanie O.