Dr. Rebecca Linda Aft-Kenigsberg, MD

She told me I could have MAC anesthesia for my lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy, in her office. She was my second opinion and I was pleased that she agreed to the MAC. I had my significant other with me at the appt to take notes and provide support. Come day of the surgery, literally minutes before I am to be rolled into the O.R. Dr. Aft said I would have to have a general anesthesia. She said and I quote “ I never perform lumpectomies under MAC. You have to have a general.” What the F? I could not believe my ears. We came to the agreement she would start with a MAC and convert to general if needed be. I have been traumatized beyond all limits of comprehension. Also, she prescribed 12 pain pills for the excruciating pain I was in following the surgery. I had to call my internist who prescribed 30 after running out in two days. Dr Aft is not fit to practice medicine. She is cold, confuses easily and outright lies. Breast cancer is a difficult journey to begin with and to deal with… an insane surgeon makes it almost unbearable. After my post op visit which I have to go to in order to get my return to work paper work completed, I will be changing surgeons and my treatment team. I no longer trust Dr. Aft and anyone remotely affiliated with her. .

In our first meeting I told Dr Aft I had a low threshold for pain and that I wanted her to be the one completing the bilateral mastectomy instead of a resident. Would have given higher rating except she does not do well with pain management and she allowed a resident to put in my port (it was implanted too deeply and the infusion nurses had difficulty accessing the port during chemo plus the stitching was poorly done and has left a significant scar on my neck where the power port was stitched to a muscle).

Dr Rebecca Aft performed a bilateral mastectomy on me with no reconstruction. My scars are very neat and tidy, and my chest now very smooth and flat, which is desired. I am very pleased with the results. She was extremely accommodating to my request for expedited surgery. Her staff was always quick to follow up and make referrals as necessary. I did not experience poor bedside manner other have mentioned and would recommend Dr Aft as a surgeon.

When I saw Dr Aft I stressed how important it was for me to have my surgery within a certain time period as a friend was able to stay with me after the drive thru mastectomy. She said she would be able to accommodate me. I gave her the dates twice. Since I had to have an entire breast removed I wanted reconstruction. I told her that. She forgot to refer me to a plastic surgeon. So I can’t have the surgery within the necessary time frame. I am terrified of staying alone since I have had serious delayed reaction to anesthesia. She couldn’t care less. She won’t even consider extending my hospital stay even though ok with insurance. how can it be that a doctor who does so much breast surgery neglect to refer a patient who wants reconstruction to a plastic surgeon. Scatterbrained cold and uncaring

Dr. Aft has a very straight forward approach that I appreciate. She is not a 'hold your hand' kind of doc but very focused and competent. My cancer was more aggressive and widespread than anyone initially thought and it really helped me to have her calm clinical approach. I was initially concerned reading some reviews but I found her to be very available and direct. Did a great job explaining options and answering all my questions.

I have never met Dr. Aft personally, but her staff is what concerns me. I've had two appointments cancelled because of technology issues with an ultrasound disk. Each time they did not think to try and open and view the disk before the day of my appointment. Had I known it was not working I could have gotten another copy and brought it with me.

During sentinal node biopsy Dr. Aft butchered 3 additional lymph nodes. These were later found on ultrasound. She also removed an extra node during surgery. That means, 4 unnecessary lymph nodes were removed or destroyed. I now have all the complications of someone who had axillary node dissection with radiation. On my follow up surgical visit Dr. Aft failed to note that I had double axillary web that went from my elbow to the center of my mastectomy scar.

Dr. Aft must be one of the best surgeons out there. I was happy with my mastectomy from the very beginning, but as I see more and more results from other people's mastectomies, I am more convinced that she must be the cream of the crop.

Dr. Aft failed to properly supervise a resident performing my port implant for chemo, causing a near-fatal incident in the O.R. where the resident jammed the guide wire for the port into my heart causing 3rd degree heart block. My heart stopped, the anesthesiology notes were completely absent from the moment the incident occurred until a temporary pacemaker was located in the hospital and placed 1.5 hours later. The hospital scrubbed the O.R. report, making it appear that I actually caused the incident although I was under general anesthesia. A permanent pacemaker was placed 3 days later after which I developed congestive heart failure because of the type of pacemaker they implanted. I have already had to have 2 additional surgeries and will have heart failure for the rest of my life. All because of a very careless resident she was supervising. If I used her I would demand that NO resident there ever touch me. After the incident my oncologist was desperate to get the port placed. At… the time I did not yet know what happened as the hospital tried to deny all responsibility so I let her try to place the port again. However, her office was so rude in trying to re-schedule the appointment I can't believe I still went back for more. Avoid at all costs.

I came to her office in severe pain. Dr. Aft was very rude to me and wouldn't listen to my concerns, even went so far as to asked me what I expected her to do?! I said, to see what is causing my pain! She said, well I guess I could do a CAT Scan. So, I finally got my scan and was never called with the results. I finally called her office and was told that I had diverticulosis (sp) and I said, well what do I do for that? I was told to EAT more fiber!? Really!! That's it?! For such a well respected center I expected more compassion and a lot more help!!