General News
Leif Nordberg, M.D., always knew he wanted to be a surgeon. He pictured a career in heart surgery, but during his medical education he felt pulled in a new direction when he witnessed the breast reconstruction of a patient who had survived breast cancer.
“Seeing the artistry of it, I just knew that was what I wanted to do,” he said. “It was a really unique way to help someone through some very difficult circumstances.”
Now certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Nordberg mostly performs those reconstructions at Cape Fear Valley Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. And it’s as rewarding as he thought it would be.
But his expertise doesn’t end there. When he’s not rebuilding what cancer took away, he’s helping erase the effects of time itself. He offers dozens of surgical procedures to help lift a sagging face, tighten a jiggly midsection, even remove excess skin after weight loss.
“We’re seeing more people who want to have a combination of services at the same time,” he said. “Especially something that’s commonly referred to as a ‘mommy makeover.’”
This is when two or more procedures are performed on one day to combat the lingering effects of pregnancy and motherhood. Reshaping the midsection and breasts can give a woman’s body its more youthful appearance.
“Having these things done in one visit makes it easier for the patient,” he said. “It’s one anesthetic, one recovery period. People have limited time off to recover and they want to make the most of it.”
Eva Pi of Fayetteville is one of Dr. Nordberg’s more recent mommy makeovers. At 40, she was unhappy with the body motherhood had given her and ready for change. Dr. Nordberg performed a tummy tuck, lifted her breasts, and finished with some liposuction.
A few months after surgery, she’s thrilled with the results.
“I love it,” she said. “I can wear a bra without it hurting my shoulders. I look good in a bathing suit. I wish I had done it earlier.”
Dr. Nordberg said the key to a happy result is knowing exactly what you’re getting into.
“Education is an important component of this,” he said. “We go over a lot of information before the day of surgery.”
It starts with an initial visit to evaluate patients’ overall health and be sure that surgery will be a good option for them. Dr. Nordberg talks about their goals, using diagrams and photos to help visualize the outcome. Once a surgery date is set, the patient returns for a pre-op visit for “before” photos and instructions for preparation and recovery.
“For follow-up, I like to see the patient for a year or more,” said Dr. Nordberg. “Scars take a year or more to mature, so it’s important to keep an eye on those.”
Extended follow-ups are why Dr. Nordberg said it’s important to stay as local as possible for cosmetic surgery. Not only is post-op travel costly and uncomfortable, it also means there is very little subsequent contact between surgeon and patient.
For those who are ready for a change, but not ready to go under the knife, Dr. Nordberg’s office also offers non-surgical interventions like Botox and fillers. And when he’s not with patients, Dr. Nordberg said he’s busy staying up to date with his ever-changing specialty.
“There is always new technology, new techniques,” he said. “The equipment is always changing and it’s important to keep learning.”
