Initial consultations take place at:
Ochsner Surgical Specialties – Slidell
1850 Gause Blvd., E., Ste. 202
Slidell, LA 70461

To make an appointment, call 985-639-3777 or contact Patty Duet, LPN, Breast Care Coordinator at 985-898-7023 or pduet@ochsner.org.

Learn more about Slidell Memorial Hospital East

The Breast Care Program provides women and their loved ones the ease and convenience of having one person to directly contact for coordinating their overall care including scheduling appointments and mammography. Our breast care coordinator will escort you through the entire process from initial medical imaging through breast reconstruction, if needed.

DIEP Flap

• Specialized surgical procedure using the body’s own natural tissue to construct a natural appearing breast
• The procedure leaves abdomen muscles intact with little to no loss in muscle function
• DIEP stands for deep inferior epigastric artery perforator and is a surgical procedure in which fat and skin from the lower belly area is used to reconstruct the breast
• Removing the abdomen tissue results in a “tummy tuck”

TRAM Flaps

• In a TRAM procedure, a portion of the abdomen tissue group, including skin, adipose tissues, minor muscles and connective tissues, is taken from the patient's abdomen and transplanted onto the breast site
• TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap procedures can move the abdomen tissue without cutting its original blood supply because it is not actually cut from the belly
• The abdomen tissue with blood supply intact is tunneled under the skin to the breast site
• Removing abdomen tissues results in a “tummy tuck”

Tissue Expansion

• The surgeon inserts a tissue expander, a temporary silastic implant, beneath a pocket under the pectoralis major muscle of the chest wall. In a process that can take weeks to months, saline solution is injected to progressively expand the overlaying tissue. Once the expander has reached an acceptable size, it may be removed and replaced with a more permanent implant.

At Slidell Memorial Hospital East, patients receive care from a multi-disciplinary team during all aspects of their breast reconstruction surgery.

Our physician team for reconstructive breast surgery includes the following:

Richard T. LeBlanc Jr., MD - Board Certified in Surgery
Dr. LeBlanc earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, LA. He completed his internship and residency at the University of South Alabama Hospitals and Clinics in Mobile.

Patty Duet, LPN - Breast Care Coordinator

Breast reconstruction following a mastectomy is fully covered by insurance when provided by in-network providers and facilities.

Most insurance plans accepted. To view a listing of insurances plans accepted at Slidell Memorial Hospital East, click here.