Nicholas Haddock, M.D.

Meet Dr. Haddock

Experienced Breast Surgeon in Dallas, Texas

Nicholas T. Haddock, M.D., is an Associate Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center with appointments in the Department of Plastic Surgery. He is experienced in all aspects of cosmetic and plastic surgery and has expert knowledge in breast reconstruction after cancer.

Dr. Haddock performs a high number of breast reconstruction surgeries annually and is considered an expert by his peers.

"I take great pride in offering a unique set of skills and procedures. Patients recovering from cancer have gone through a great deal already. I want to provide them with beautiful, tailored results that complement their physique and lifestyle," Dr. Haddock says.

Dr. Haddock worked under Dr. Bob Allen, the pioneer of the DIEP flap and PAP flap. Both options involve the use of blood vessels and a section of skin and fat from other parts of the body to reconstruct the breast. Since then, he has focused his work on these types of reconstructions, using the body’s own tissue procedures.

"There are two breast surgery options: implants or one's own tissue. After a mastectomy or double mastectomy, patients can choose which option they want, as we offer both. When a patient’s own tissue is preferred, our most common choice is the DIEP flap," Dr. Haddock says. "This procedure takes the tissue from the patient's stomach and uses it in the breast. However, some patients are not candidates for DIEP flap. I can work with these women to find an alternative option that is just as successful."

Common alternatives for women with breast cancer who have had previous abdominal surgery or who do not have enough abdominal tissue include PAP flap, which involves using tissue from the patient's thigh to reconstruct the breast and lumbar artery perforator (LAP) flap, which uses tissue from the patient's "love handle" to rebuild the breast.

Dr. Haddock possesses extensive expertise, enabling him to provide a comprehensive range of options for breast reconstruction after cancer in Dallas, Texas.

Breast Reconstruction After Cancer in Dallas, Texas

Patients travel to UT Southwestern's Dallas campus from around the country and even internationally for breast reconstruction after cancer using alternative options and a number of techniques that preserve muscle, minimize recovery time, and reduce pain.

UT Southwestern, a Center of Excellence, is committed to enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). With the combined efforts of surgeons, the nursing team, and anesthesiologists, the department has streamlined processes and set protocols intraoperatively. With a national average of nine hours for breast reconstruction surgery, UT Southwestern has reduced the time in the operating room to four hours.

"We never cut corners," Dr. Haddock says. "It's not about speed. With protocols in place, we can improve the process and focus on aesthetics. We are not only fast. We are better. As a result, we've seen a decrease in complications."

One reason patients thrive is that at UT Southwestern, the patient's entire journey of care is in one place. Whether Dr. Haddock is working with the breast cancer specialists at UT Southwestern's Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center – the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in North Texas – or a patient who has had treatment elsewhere, he aims to help patients determine the best option for reconstruction after breast cancer.

"One size does not fit all. First, I must understand my patient's desires, then look at their body anatomy and donor site to determine what is best and safest."

Dr. Haddock aims to deliver patient satisfaction, and practicing at UT Southwestern allows him to be part of a non-fragmented approach to care.

“Patients benefit from the interconnectivity and interaction of departments and the state-of-the-art resources available,” Dr. Haddock says. "UT Southwestern allows me to achieve my maximum potential while providing advanced care and excellent results for my patients’ long-term health and happiness."