In 1993, Dr. Phil Beegle was elected to the American Association of Plastic Surgeons, in recognition of his contributions to microsurgery techniques for breast reconstruction.
A graduate of the Medical College of Georgia, Dr. Phil Beegle completed his residency in general surgery at Parkland Hospital in Texas and in plastic surgery at Atlanta’s Emory University.
Dr. Phil Beegle is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Beegle serves Atlanta Plastic Surgery cosmetic and reconstructive surgery patients at their Newnan location, and has hospital affiliations with St. Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Newnan Hospital, Fayette Community Hospital, Northside Hospital and Northside Sandy Springs Outpatient Surgery Center.
You may contact his secretary, Amy Houston, at (404) 256-1311 or online at drbeegle@atlplastic.com to schedule a cosmetic or reconstructive surgery consultation.
Dr. Beegle Answers Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Adapted from Dr. Beegle’s Interview with Georgia Family Magazine
Can breast reconstruction surgery be done at the same time as a mastectomy?
Dr. Beegle: Yes, most of the time breast reconstruction surgery can be performed at the same time as a mastectomy. While this decision is highly influenced by the particular patient and the extent of breast tissue to be removed, by undergoing breast reconstruction at the same time, there are fewer complications from scar tissue created by radiation, and the overall results are more natural looking.
What’s used to replace the tissue removed during a mastectomy?
Dr. Beegle: If there is adequate amounts of breast tissue, many breast reconstruction patients will elect to have tissue harvested from their thighs, abdomen, or even back (TRAM and DIEP flap methods) to replace what’s removed during a mastectomy. If this isn’t an option, Atlanta reconstructive surgeons can place a tissue expander underneath the skin to make room for a later inserted breast implant to match the remaining breast.
Breast reconstruction surgery can improve breast shape, but can anything be done to make the breast look more natural after reconstruction?
Dr. Beegle: Nipple reconstruction is an additional breast reconstruction procedure that can make a recreated breast look much more natural. Like breast reconstruction, nipple reconstruction surgery utilizes tissue and skin harvested from another area of the patient’s body to attach and reform a nipple. Later, the new skin may be tattooed to match the other breast’s areola coloring.
