Practice Manager Michelle Nolan, Dr. Jackie Wegge, Dr. Shitel Patel
Beautiful, brave, courageous, warrior, survivor… Here at Lift Plastic Surgery, we believe these endearing words, of many, describe our patients – not their diagnosis.
According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that among U.S. women alone, there will be approximately 316,120 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2017. While mortality rates have substantially decreased over the last two decades due to early detection and improved adjuvant therapy, it still remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide.
At Lift Plastic Surgery, we know it can be hard to find the silver lining once you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer. The very core of our practice believes in helping our patients feel completely secure in their health, overall wellbeing and image, despite these unforeseen circumstances.
We understand that, while having your cancer removed and remaining cancer free is the ultimate goal, it often results in additional challenges to overcome. While the initial surgeries themselves may be lifesaving, they can have a lasting impact on how you look, feel, function, and overall quality of life. If you, or someone you’ve loved, has been diagnosed with breast cancer, we understand the emotional and physical scarring that it can bring. No matter your gender or background, losing a breast can be emotionally, and physically, taxing.
After diagnosis, patients are faced with an overwhelming amount of information, and a multitude of decisions to make in a short amount of time! This leaves many patients feeling frustrated and helpless – understandably so! It is our goal to stream-line this process for you.
In the majority of instances, after breast cancer is diagnosed, a patient will be referred to a breast surgeon that will remove the tumor and work with an oncologist to treat the cancer, and a referral will also be made to a plastic surgeon who works with the breast surgeon to provide breast reconstruction. Unfortunately, some patients are never referred to a plastic surgeon, and have no idea that breast reconstruction is even an option.
Lift Plastic Surgery is unique, in that it can provide all of these services for you. Dr. Patel and Dr. Wegge are both fully trained in general surgery and plastic surgery. By coming to us, your care can be simplified, as you have one team treating you from beginning to end, and providing all of your needs. It can be a comfort to know that your surgeon is invested in every part of your care, and knows your history, goals, and desires inside and out. Additionally, our plastic surgery skillset gives us the ability to plan your cancer removal in the most aesthetic way, taking into account future reconstruction that might be planned for the best possible final outcome.
Breast reconstruction is often a very important part of a woman’s recovery after treatment for breast cancer. It can help recreate cleavage, projection, and soft contours relative to a woman’s natural breasts. Research shows that reconstruction of the breasts can improve psychological well-being and quality of life by enhancing body image and self-esteem.
As a team, Dr. Patel and Dr. Wegge aim to provide quality care. They are both very passionate about breast surgery, and feel honored that they can use their extensive training to improve their patient’s care. Additionally, they feel strongly about empowering women in general, and addressing any other cosmetic desires their patients may have from body contouring to “mommy make-overs”. Dr. Patel and Dr. Wegge have founded and centered their ideals upon family-based values, and a desire to deliver exceptional results. Our doctors treat you as they would their own loved ones. Their philosophy of care is clear and concise: treat the problems of today for the results of tomorrow!
UP Pediatric Plastic Surgery
Where kids are treated like superheroes!
One of life’s most treasured gifts is a child. The beauty and light a child brings emanates such joy and laughter. Their resilience and strength, in the hardest of times, gives us hope and purpose toward greater good.
Having a child born with a birth defect or experiencing a traumatic injury can be one of the hardest things a parent has to endure. Often, parents aren’t aware that a plastic surgeon can provide treatment in a multitude of these situations.
From cuts to cleft lips, skin lesions to complex craniofacial syndromes, and everything in-between, our doctors at UP Pediatric Plastic Surgery are committed to creating a personalized treatment plan tailored to each patient and families’ needs.
For many of these complex diagnoses, your child will need care from birth to adulthood, with multiple surgical procedures along the way. Our extensive training in general surgery, plastic surgery, and craniofacial surgery has equipped us with the skill set necessary to provide you excellent care throughout this entire process.
We find it extremely rewarding to form long-lasting bonds and help guide you along this journey.Our philosophy is centered on patient care and safety. We realize the importance of spending quality time in educating families on every aspect of their child’s medical care.
Surgery can be stressful and scary. Our goal is to make you and your child feel informed, comfortable and confident! At UP you’re considered family and the core of our family-based ideals encourage hope and strength amidst the waves of uncertainty and change — together we will go UP!
Meet Our Doctors
Dr. Shitel Patel
Dr. Shitel D. Patel was born and raised in central Florida. He went to the University of Florida and graduated with Honors with Bachelors of science degree in Biochemistry. Following college, he went to the University of South Florida Medical School in sunny Tampa. Subsequently, he did his intern year with the University of Florida at Shands Jacksonville. Dr. Patel then went on to complete his residency in General Surgery at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. He is board-certified in General Surgery, since 2013. He then went on to complete a three-year Plastic Surgery Residency at UT Houston in the heart of Houston’s bustling medical center. During this time, he was exposed to a large and multifaceted volume of all aspects of plastic surgery. This, along with talented mentors and teachers, allowed him to hone his plastic surgery skills in microsurgery, reconstruction, pediatrics, hand and cosmetics. Dr. Patel went on to further fortify his training by completing a Pediatric and Adult Craniofacial Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. Post fellowship, Dr. Shitel Patel relocated back to the nation’s busiest medical center, and founded Lift Plastic Surgery and Up Pediatric Plastic Surgery. In this, he is pursuant of his passion in helping patients feel, and look, their absolute best.
Dr. Jacqueline Wegge
Dr. Wegge grew up in DePere Wisconsin, where she was avidly involved in music, art, theater, and dance, as well as a member of National Honor Society. She then went on to complete her undergraduate training at the University of Wisconsin Madison where she graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. She graduated with distinction as well as a membership in: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, and Golden Key International Honor Society. Subsequently, she fulfilled her medical training at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. She received her medical degree in 2008 as well as the prestigious honor of being elected as an alpha omega alpha member. Dr. Wegge then went on to complete a full five-year general surgery residency at MSU-KCMS/Western Michigan University, and has been board certified in general surgery since 2014. She then accomplished an additional plastic surgery residency at the UT Houston. Finally, she went on to fulfill her ultimate goals with a craniofacial fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. Throughout her training, Dr. Wegge was fortunate to learn from many great mentors and experts on the forefront of trauma, cancer reconstruction, breast surgery and reconstruction, microsurgery, hand surgery, craniofacial surgery and aesthetic surgery. During her plastic surgery residency in Houston Texas, she was trained at one of the busiest trauma centers in the country, as well as MD Anderson, one of the foremost cancer centers in the world. As a result, she has a broad range of skills that makes her ideally equipped to treat a wide variety of patients with even the most difficult problems. Dr. Wegge was lucky enough to be able to travel to El Salvador for the past two years with the Austin Smiles Plastic Surgery foundation. She was part of a large team of medical professionals and volunteers that provided care for underserved patients from Central America. This included operations for patients in all phases of cleft care (cleft lip, cleft palate, speech surgery, rhinoplasty etc.) as well as other congenital anomalies like hemifacial microsomia. She found this to be a life-changing experience that has affected her overall views on medical care and further cemented her desire to provide every patient with compassion and personalized treatment. She plans to continue involvement in medical mission work as much as she is able.
Our practice has the unqiue ability to treat your cancer and reconstruct your breast with our surgeons being fully trained in Breast and Plastic Surgery! Cancer knows no age, color, race, religion or sex. We fight cancer and let you live life!
832-835-1131
[email protected]
www.LiftPlastics.com
Med Center:
7400 Fannin St
Suite 1240
Houston, TX 77054
Clear Lake:
450 Medical Center Blvd
Suite 540
Webster, TX 77598
