Jolie's doctor Kristi Funk has blogged details of the actress's double mastectomy, applauding the star's decision to undergo the surgeries
Angelina Jolie’s surgeon has revealed that she was back to work four days after her double mastectomy. Dr Kristi Funk - who operated on the actress at the Pink Lotus Breast Center - said the she was already thinking about her next movie project before the post-op tubes were removed.u00a0She wrote: “On day four after her mastectomies, I was pleased to find her not only in good spirits with bountiful energy, but with two walls in her house covered with freshly assembled storyboards for the next project she is directing. All the while she spoke, six drains dangled from her chest, three on each side, fastened to an elastic belt around her waist.”
Inspirational: Dr Kristi Funk said the Pink Lotus Breast Center ‘applauds’ Angelina Jolie’s (inset) bold choices. Pics/AFP
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The Beverly Hills doctor put the actress’s swift recovery down to her positive attitude. “To a large extent, I believe recovery reflects expectation. Angelina expected to feel well, to be active,” she said.
Jolie, an Oscar-winning actress, humanitarian activist and mother of six, wrote on Tuesday that she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after learning she had an 87 per cent risk of developing breast cancer.
Dr Funk laid out the 10-week timetable for the surgery - which stretched over 10 weeks - beginning in February with a painful procedure known as “nipple delay”, in an effort to save her nipples.
She said the reconstructive surgery began the day after her home visit. She revealed: “The next day she had her first injection of saline into the expanders, thus beginning the process that would gradually prepare the tissues for the final stage of her operations, reconstruction. Four of the six drains were removed.
“Four days after that, on postoperative day nine, the last two drains were removed. A second saline fill occurred on March 4. Over the next four weeks she was hard at work.
“The final operation occurred on April 27, ten weeks after the mastectomies: reconstruction of the breasts with implant, which went extremely well, bringing an end to her surgical journey.”u00a0While praising the star’s bravery, she added: “Surgery will not necessarily be the right choice for everyone. As Angelina says in her article, the important thing is to be aware of your options.”
Last night Angelina’s father, Jon Voight, said his daughter’s article was the first he knew of the operation and he was “as surprised as anyone.” u00a0The veteran actor saw her and fiance Brad Pitt just two days before the announcement, at a family celebration. He said: “My love and admiration for my daughter can’t be explained in words.
“I saw her two days ago with my son Jamie. We all got together for his birthday, with her and Brad. But I didn’t know. It wasn’t obvious at all. I found out Tuesday morning.”
He added: “I was as surprised as anyone and deeply moved by the way she’s handled this. She’s a very extraordinary person, the way she examined it and what she shared.” He said he respected her decision and added: “I completely understand,” he said. “I want the focus to be on the inspiration.”
According to reports, Jolie may also have her ovaries removed.
Brad Pitt hails Jolie’s decision
Brad Pitt described his partner Angelina Jolie’s brave decision as “absolutely heroic” after the actress revealed she underwent a double mastectomy.
The actor said it was a “happy day” for his family and that all he wanted was for the actress to live a long and healthy life.u00a0“Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie’s choice, as well as so many others like her, absolutely heroic,” Pitt said.u00a0
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