Breast reconstruction stands apart from other cosmetic procedures by offering women the opportunity to regain a sense of wholeness after their cancer journey. Today, advancements in the field provide survivors with more personalized options, allowing them to achieve the results they truly desire without compromise. Tucson Plastic Surgery’s board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Silvia Kurtovic and Dr. Raman Mahabir, are at the forefront of these innovations. Their aesthetic restoration approach goes beyond the physical, addressing emotional healing as well. The ultimate goal is to empower women to feel complete—not just to conceal scars or perceived imperfections, but to fully embrace their renewed sense of self.
As Dr. Mahabir explains, “What a lot of surgeons still to this day tell their patients is, ‘Hey, look, our goal is just to make you look good in clothes.’ But we no longer think that’s acceptable. We set the bar much higher than that.”
Aesthetic Restoration vs. Traditional Reconstruction
Their aesthetic restoration approach considers the emotional experience of breast reconstruction, with a commitment to delivering results that look beautiful and feel natural.
“Our goal is that when patients are done with all their surgeries, they look in the mirror and see something positive and restorative,” says Dr. Kurtovic. “We want them to feel whole, instead of feeling damaged or broken from having undergone cancer surgery. When we meet, we ask, ‘If you weren’t here to talk about breast reconstruction, what would you want your breasts to look like?’ We really try to achieve that.”
Enhanced Recovery
A key component of this approach is the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol, which drastically shortens recovery time and improves the overall experience. Nationally, most breast reconstruction patients stay in the hospital for five to six days, but Dr. Mahabir and Dr. Kurtovic’s patients typically stay for just one or two.
“ERAS starts before surgery,” Dr. Mahabir explains. “Two weeks before, we have a pre-op visit where we go through everything—expectations, plans, medications—so the patient is mentally and physically prepared.”
On the day of surgery, patients receive medications before anesthesia to block pain signals. “By blocking pain before the brain even knows it is happening, patients wake up without built-up pain signals. The block lasts three to four days, and because they’re in less pain, they need fewer narcotics, which means less nausea, vomiting and constipation,” Dr. Mahabir explains. “It’s a major advancement in making surgery more comfortable.”
The Two-Surgeon Approach
Another element that sets this team apart is their two-surgeon approach. With two experienced surgeons working simultaneously, surgery time is cut in half, meaning less time under anesthesia and a faster recovery.
“With one surgeon, a bilateral breast reconstruction can take 14 to 16 hours,” Dr. Mahabir says. “With two surgeons, we can get it down to seven or eight hours. Less time in surgery means less stress on the body and a quicker recovery.”
Dr. Kurtovic adds, “It’s like an athletic performance. We hold each other accountable and bring out the best in each other. Having two different perspectives and skill sets allows us to come up with the best possible plan for each patient.”
This approach is particularly helpful for patients who’ve undergone previous surgeries, where the anatomy may be complex. “Some of the hardest cases aren’t always the most straightforward,” Dr. Kurtovic says. “Having two surgeons ensures the optimal outcome for the patient.”
Healing Inside and Out
Perhaps the most important part of aesthetic breast restoration is the emotional and psychological healing it fosters. Dr. Kurtovic emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional toll that comes with breast cancer and reconstruction. “When we approach it from a place of healing, both physically and emotionally, we can help them walk away from this as a complete person,” she says.
For Dr. Mahabir and Dr. Kurtovic, it’s about more than just the technical aspects of surgery. “You can do the best surgery in the world, but if the patient isn’t emotionally ready or doesn’t feel connected to the process, the outcome won’t be as successful,” Dr. Mahabir says.
A Commitment to Accessible Care
Beyond their surgical practice, Dr. Kurtovic and Dr. Mahabir have co-founded their charity Reblossom, to help uninsured or underinsured women in Southern Arizona afford breast reconstruction. Through their charity, these women can receive breast reconstruction at no cost, further highlighting the duo’s dedication to making aesthetic restoration accessible to all.
“Our goal is to help women heal, both physically and emotionally, so they can look in the mirror and feel like themselves again,” Dr. Kurtovic says.
