Dr. Elisabeth Rippy

Dr. Elisabeth Rippy

I am an experienced breast surgeon with specialist training in reconstruction; an oncoplastic surgeon. I have been practicing advanced breast surgery exclusively for over 10 years and I love what I do.

I am passionate about my work and try to reduce the impact of surgery. My team and I aim to make the journey through diagnosis and treatment as smooth and as painless as possible. My favourite part of my job is seeing my cancer patients after they have come through their treatment. They have their lives back and they are smiling again. It makes everything I do worthwhile.

What do I do?

I treat benign breast problems including breast reductions for back and neck problems.

I treat breast cancer including breast reconstructions. I utilize the most up to date surgical techniques to minimize the psychological and cosmetic effects of surgery.

My Promise:

• To explain a patient's diagnosis in a calm and supportive environment
• To give as much time as needed by each individual to go through diagnosis and treatment
• To offer as much choice as safely possible with regards to surgical options, utilizing the most up to date modern oncoplastic techniques
• To offer all suitable mastectomy patients a reconstruction, immediate if possible, delayed if necessary
•  Multidisciplinary cancer care with involvement in clinical trials
• A team approach which includes multiple services including a breast care nurse, clinical psychologist, physiotherapist, and dietician
• To provide aftercare for surveillance and living well after cancer

Professional Qualifications BSc MB.BS

Professional Memberships

• Australian Society for Breast Disease
• Breast SurgANZ
• Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
• Royal College of Surgeons(Edinburgh)

Present Appointments

Presentations – I regularly teach and present

• RNSH Medical And Surgical Women’s Society 17th Oct 2016
• Nurses Day Surgery Course - Breast Surgery, Sept 24th  2016, Kolling Auditorium, North Shore Hospital
• Breast Cancer and Reconstruction. Northern Sydney Cancer Support Group; March 2015, Royal North Shore Hospital
• Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction, The Breast Surgeon and Ultrasound August 2014, Feb 2015 – Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM)
• Breast Reconstruction – 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASUM) Sept 2015
• Use of Blue Dye in Sentinel Lymph node biopsy: time to re-evaluate. G Wong, EE Rippy, M Bochner, R Ainsworth, ASBD Sep 2013 Cairns
• Nipple and Skin Sparing Mastectomy – 80th Annual Scientific Congress, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 2-6th May 2010
• Five Year Audit of Local Recurrence after Wide Local Excision Chase Farm Hospital 2003

Future Presentations

I regularly speak at the Mater and Royal North Shore Hospital Breast cancer support group programs such as the Early Breast Cancer Information Series. My next talks are on Breast Cancer Surgery and Reconstruction at the Mater Hospital on 16 May and 31 October 2017.

How I Do a Superior/SuperioMedial Pedicle for therapeutic mammoplasty/ breast reduction. Oncoplastic masterclass. 86th Annual Scientific Congress, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons,10 may 2017.

Courses – I keep my skills up to date

• Liposculpture Workshop, Australasian College of Cosmetic Surgery Oct 2016
• Adip’Sculpt Liposculpture Symposium Jul 2016
• Breast Ultrasound Course – Australian Institute of US Oct 2009
• Advanced Skills in Breast Disease Management March 2007
• Intermediate Skills in Oncoplastics /Breast Reconstruction Surgery April 2006
• Core Skills in Oncoplastics and Breast Reconstruction Surgery Sept 2005
• Intermediate Distance Learning Breast Disease Course April 2003

Publications

• Breast Cancer in Young Women, The Medical Observer (due for publication June 2017)
• Breast Reconstruction EE Rippy, The Medical Observer. October 2015
• The Angelina Effect. E E Rippy. The Medical Observer. Dec 5 2014.
• Influences on Decision for Mastectomy in Patients Eligible for Breast Conserving Surgery. EERippy, R Ainsworth, D Agarwal, J Kollias, M Bochner, R Whitfield. The Breast, vol 23, issue 3, June 2014, pg. 273-278
• A comparison of vitamin D activity in paired non-malignant and malignant human breast tissues. Rachel J Suetani, Kristen Ho, Shalini Jindal, Jim Manavis, Paul M Neilsen,Kathleen I Pishas, Elisabeth Rippy, Melissa Bochner, James Kollias, P Grantley Gill, Howard A Morris, David F Callen. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2012 Oct 15;362(1-2):202-10
• Pregnancy after breast cancer: the importance of active counselling  and planning. EE Rippy, I Karat, MWKissin, Breast. 2009 Dec; 18(6)pp 345-50
• Is HRT justified for symptom management in women at higher risk of developing breast cancer? Rippy L, J Marsden, Climacteric 2006 Dec. 9 (6)pp 404 -15

My Story

I am a world traveller. I was born in California, USA and was brought up in London, UK. I have lived in Hong Kong for a few months and in South India during my medical school elective. I spent a year in Gosford, NSW after finishing my initial medical training and I loved it so much that I always wanted to come back. When my advanced training finished in the UK, I was offered a post as a breast and reconstructive surgeon in Adelaide, SA. I loved Australia and decided to stay permanently. I moved to NSW in 2013 and set up practice in Sydney.

To know more about Dr Rippy, please click here