Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Speaks at BRA Day Event

Dr. Jay Orringer, a prominent Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, was recently invited to speak at a special Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day event about the importance of the team approach to breast care. In keeping with this theme, he believes that every patient with breast cancer, or considering prophylactic mastectomy, should see a plastic surgeon early in the process. This facilitates a better understanding of the treatment options and future implications of radiation, if considered.

The fundraising event, held in Florida on Oct. 16, was one of many held across the country to promote education, awareness and women's access to post-mastectomy breast reconstruction. October is traditionally known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and BRA Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday of the month.

Dr. Orringer, who has been performing breast reconstructive surgery for 25 years, is passionate about raising awareness of breast reconstructive options including the use of optimally aesthetic incisions. Earlier this year, he worked with an inspiring patient, Ms. Angelina Jolie, who revealed details of her preventive double mastectomy and subsequent breast reconstruction in a New York Times op-ed column published in May. In her piece, Ms. Jolie indicated that she hoped that her experience would encourage more women to seek gene testing and explore their breast cancer preventive options.

According to Dr. Orringer, Jolie's decision to share her story and bring awareness to the importance of gene testing and taking a proactive stance was both "brave" and "benevolent." He noted that her candidness has already begun to save lives, and his practice is seeing more women who are saying that "they or their family members were inspired by [Jolie's story] to get gene testing." As a result, he notes that "the lives of these women found to have certain gene mutations are likely to be saved."

Dr. Orringer told the New York Daily News that taking the team approach model means the patient is the "captain of her team and we, as health care providers, are members of that team helping her to arrive at an individualized decision with which she is most comfortable."

To learn more about Dr. Orringer and post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, please visit http://www.drorringer.com.

About Jay Orringer, MD
Jay Orringer, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a board-certified plastic surgeon who practices in Beverly Hills, Calif. He completed general surgical training at the University of Michigan Affiliated Hospitals, plastic surgery training at UCLA Medical Center and microsurgery training at New York University and Bellevue Hospitals. He is a former Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at the UCLA Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and current Adjunct Clinical Faculty member at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. He has lectured and published on a number of plastic and reconstructive surgery topics, and has been featured in the Best Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Guide to Top Doctors and Guide to America's Top Surgeons.