Dr. Hina Ghafoor is a Board Certified primary care doctor who cares for patients of the Reisterstown, Owings Mills, Westminster and Eldersburg communities at Mercy Personal Physicians at Reisterstown.
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, includes disorders that cause inflammation of the intestines. IBD is treated at Mercy by expert gastroenterologists.
The Breast Reconstruction and Restoration Center at Mercy is led by Dr. Bernard (Bernie) Chang, and Dr. Brendan Collins -recognized specialists in breast reconstruction and restoration.
Mercy offers emergency care on the Downtown Baltimore campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (410-332-9477) with access to a trained emergency medicine team, diagnostic services and consultations with specialists.
In case of an Emergency, Dial 911 and follow the instructions of the EMS (Emergency Medical Services) team.
Mercy Medical Center's downtown campus includes our Main Hospital - The Mary Catherine Bunting Center, McAuley Plaza and The Weinberg Center.
General visiting hours at Mercy are 11:00 am to 8:30 pm. Hours vary by floor, please check with the nursing staff or call 410-332-9555.
Latissimus flap breast reconstruction, sometimes referred to as Latissimus Dorsi flap breast reconstruction, is treatment for breast reconstruction following mastectomy offered by the plastic surgeons at The Breast Reconstruction and Restoration Center at Mercy. Working individually with patients and their breast surgeons, our doctors coordinate the best treatment options for each patient’s condition.
Skin and tissue from the back shoulder blade area is moved to the mastectomy site during latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction. The tissue from the back is tunneled to the mastectomy site and molded to form a new breast.
Women who have small to medium-sized breasts are the best candidates for latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction. Since the amount of body tissue on the upper back is limited, it is best used for reconstructing breasts that are smaller or medium-sized.
Latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction often is combined with an implant as additional volume is needed. During the initial latissimus dorsi flap surgery, a temporary expander is inserted under the tissue flap that was moved from the back and reconnected at the mastectomy site. A permanent implant is inserted during a future surgery. Additional surgery also may be needed to recreate the nipple and areola if they cannot be saved during the initial latissimus dorsi flap surgery.
Mercy's plastic surgeons, along with breast surgeons at The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy, work with each patient to determine the best treatment plan for the patient’s individual needs. Latissimus dorsi flap breast reconstruction can be immediate, taking place at the same time as a mastectomy, or can be delayed until after chemotherapy and/or radiation is completed.
Dr. Brendan Collins specializes in breast reconstruction, cosmetic medicine and plastic surgery at The Breast Reconstruction and Restoration Center and Cosmetic Medicine and Surgery at Mercy.
Shawnta was diagnosed with breast cancer as a healthy 38-year-old but lives to tell the story of her struggle.