Surgeon Dr. Jeffrey M. Hartog is Today’s Honoree

Michelle Hartog was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. She underwent a bilateral mastectomy.

With the help of her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Hartog, she chose the bilateral mastectomy because they determined it was the easiest for reconstruction. And the best course of reconstruction for her, they thought was autologous fat transfer (AFT) or fat grafting.

According to a University of Michigan study, seven out of 10 women don’t know their breast reconstruction options.

Since Michelle diagnosis, Dr. Hartog has dedicated himself and his practice to helping women know their post-mastectomy breast reconstruction options, including women who are BRCA 1 or 2 positive and are seeking a preventative mastectomy like Angelina Jolie.

Using AFT, Dr. Hartog takes fat from a patient’s thighs and abdomen – notorious undesirable fat locations – using gentle liposuction techniques. Upon removal, the fat is injected in small amounts into the desired area, which allows the body to build and attach blood vessels needed for the fat tissue to survive. The recovery time from fat grafting is minimal as it is completed as an outpatient procedure with an incision smaller in diameter
than a pencil. Dr. Hartog even has the Liquid Gold Lipobank, where patients can store their fat for future use, at the Bougainvillea Clinique in Winter Park, Fla.

Michelle, now cancer-free, competes in a breast cancer survivor Dragon Boat team. She and Dr. Hartgo host events and speak to help women know their breast reconstruction options.

Dr. Jeffrey Hartog, D.M.D., M.D., is the director of the Bougainvillea Clinique in Winter Park, Fla. He is dual Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Dr. Hartog lectures and trained all over the world, from Johannesburg, South Africa to Miami, Dallas, Salt Lake City and Glasgow, Scotland. Johannesburg is where he began his initial dentistry training and Glasgow is where he received his further medical and
plastic surgery training.

He has completed more than 4,000 breast surgeries in his career and is an acknowledged expert in breast augmentation and regenerative breast surgery. Dr. Hartog specializes in corrective breast surgery, for breast implant complications and breast reconstruction
complications. Dr. Hartog has become a recognized specialist in the emerging field of Regenerative Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery. This field centers around the use of fat grafting in all aspects of plastic surgery, including breast reconstruction and augmentation, facial and skin rejuvenation, body contouring, radiation damage, scar treatments and wound healing.

When not in surgery, he is an avid scuba diver and an award-winning photographer, including underwater photography while scuba diving.

Visit Dr. Jeffrey M. Hartog for more information.