Meet Dr. Edward Timmins!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we’re proud to have a team of superior surgeons who are leading doctors in their respective fields, with prestigious educational backgrounds from colleges, universities and surgical training programs throughout the country. These distinguished members of the medical field provide top notch healthcare service through the execution of high quality procedures for patients in need of open and minimally invasive general and vascular surgery.

We know the worry that most people face when they learn that they need a surgical procedure, which is why we’d like our patients to be able to know our doctors a little bit better beforehand. We want to ease your fears and help you find comfort in knowing that no matter the procedure, with the surgeons at Great South Bay Surgical Associates, you’re always in good hands!

With that being said, today we’d like to introduce you to another one of our surgical professionals, Dr. Edward Timmins!

Dr. Timmins grew up in Brooklyn NY and completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon completion of his degree, the doctor returned to Long Island to pursue a degree in medicine at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) in Old Westbury NY and completed his surgical training at Nassau University Medical Center.

Following his residency, in 1998 Dr. Timmins joined forces with Great South Bay Surgical Associates, working hand-in hand with our extraordinary surgeons for more than 17 years. During his time with the practice, Dr. Timmins has developed an expertise in various types of general surgery, with a particular interest in hernia repair and minimally invasive surgery. As a board certified general surgeon, Dr. Timmins specializes in advanced laparoscopic surgery, dealing mainly with benign and malignant breast diseases, as well as gastrointestinal and abdominal related issues.

In addition to his prestigious hands-on medical background, Dr. Timmins also serves as a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and has been president of the eastern Long Island chapter since 2010. He also serves as the Director of Performance Improvement for the trauma program, one of a select group of surgeons providing trauma care, at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.

To learn more about how Dr. Timmins can help you, give us a call at 631-321-6801 today!

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we strive to provide open and minimally invasive surgical solutions for any vascular or general health issues you may face. If you live in Nassau, Suffolk or the surrounding areas and are in need of a surgeon, click here to view our website or call us 631-321-6801 to schedule your free consultation today.

All About Breast Reconstruction Surgery

In honor of National Cancer Survivor Day yesterday, we’d like to tip our hats to cancer survivors everywhere, and shed some light on the breast reconstruction procedures that can benefit breast cancer survivors specifically.

Who is Eligible for Breast Reconstruction?
Many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are candidates for a lumpectomy or a partial mastectomy surgery. As part of the procedure, the surgeon will remove the tumor and reshape the remaining breast to preserve its aesthetics. However, in some cases women are not eligible for a lumpectomy, and instead require a full mastectomy to be performed, which is the removal of the entire breast tissue. Although it is not necessary, many women opt to receive breast reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy to rebuild breast tissue.

Types of Breast Reconstruction
There are three methods that can be performed to achieve breast reconstruction: Breast implants, natural tissue flaps or a combination of the two. When choosing a method you’ll want to take into account that each procedure produces different results, some feeling more natural than others. Body type and size also have an impact on the recommended method of reconstruction. Your surgeon will recommend the best options for you during your consultation.

Breast Implants vs. Natural Tissue Flaps
According to the Susan G. Komen Organization, there are certain advantages and disadvantages to the two methods of procedure.

• Look and Feel: With breast implants you’ll have less of a natural outcome than you would with natural tissue flaps.
• Surgery and Hospital Stay: Breast implants require a less extensive surgery than natural tissue flaps, but both require a hospital stay for the initial procedure. However, after receiving breast implant surgery you’ll only need to stay 1-2 nights in the hospital, whereas with the natural tissue flap procedure, you’ll need to be hospitalized for 3-4 nights.
• Repeated Surgery: Breast implants will likely need to be redone over time, while tissue flaps will not.
• Recovery Time: Breast implant surgery requires a 3-4 week recovery time, while tissue flap surgery requires 4-6 weeks. The likelihood of scarring is also significantly lower in breast implant procedures.

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, our doctors specialize in a variety of oncological and reconstructive procedures. If you need breast cancer surgery, or desire breast reconstruction, our highly skilled surgeons are here to help. To learn more about our practice and procedures or to schedule a consultation call 631-321-6801 today!

Surgical Oncology Procedures

What is surgical oncology, and how did it begin?

Surgical oncology is a specialized surgical field that focuses on the treatment and removal of a variety of types of tumors. The first known instance of an oncological procedure was reported in 1809, when Ephraim McDowell operated on an ovarian tumor. Although this is the first reported instance of oncology, it is said that ancient Egyptians left evidence describing procedures used to remove breast tumors that were performed during the 7th century.

What is the goal of surgical oncology?

As in all surgeries, oncological surgery is meant to help curative efforts, specifically for a variety of types of cancer.  Prior to recommending a surgical procedure, the surgeon must first facilitate a consultation with the patient where diagnostic and staging studies are performed.  This will help the surgeon determine whether the tumor is operable or not as is, and the results will assist in developing a curative and surgical plan for the patient.  The ultimate goal of a surgical oncologist is to extract the entirety of the cancer and clear margin, hopefully leading the patient down the road to a cancer-free recovery.

What surgical oncology procedures do we specialize in?

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we provide a wide variety of surgical oncology procedures such as:

• Breast Cancer Surgery (lumpectomy) - Including nipple sparing and skin sparing cancer procedures, lymph node preserving procedures to prevent lymphedema, and breast reconstruction
• Gastrointestinal Cancer Surgery - Including stomach (gastric), small bowel, colon and rectal surgery (available using both laparoscopic and open techniques)
• Melanoma and Skin Cancer Surgery with sentinel node techniques
• Sarcoma Treatment (tumors of muscle)

At Great South Bay Surgical Associates, we pride ourselves in the multitude of services and procedures that we offer to our patients in Nassau and Suffolk counties. Comprised of eight leading doctors in the surgical field, our team is committed to providing exceptional services by using state of the art technologies while upholding our traditional values of caring and quality.  For more information or to schedule a consultation, click here to view our website or call 631-321-6801 today.