The Breast Team: Perimeter Plastic Surgery and Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure

Each year, the Susan G. Komen organization hosts 5K races throughout the country to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer. In 2015, Perimeter Plastic Surgery served as the event sponsor for the 25th annual Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure on May 9, 2015 at the Lenox Square Mall. Since then, we have remained proud supporters of the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure, a longtime fundraising event held in support of breast cancer awareness, screening, education, and research across Greater Atlanta.

Led by founder Dr. Mark Deutsch, Perimeter Plastic Surgery brings more than 30 years of surgical expertise to breast reconstruction for women navigating life after a breast cancer diagnosis. Standing alongside Susan G. Komen each year is one of the most meaningful ways our team honors the survivors, families, and clinicians at the heart of this fight.

What You Will Learn

• Why Perimeter Plastic Surgery proudly supports the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure as a breast cancer awareness fundraising event.
• How race proceeds fund screening, education, treatment, and research in Atlanta and across the country.
• Dr. Deutsch’s role in breast reconstruction for breast cancer survivors.
• How early detection, self-exams, and yearly mammograms can save lives.
• How to join, donate, or contact our team to get involved.

The Breast Team and Our Commitment to the Cause

With the support of our patients, our staff first formed a team called “The Breast Team” in 2015 to participate in the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Race for the Cure. That year, the race hoped to have 10,000 participants and raise $1.2 million. That tradition continues today as part of our ongoing commitment to breast cancer awareness.

Proceeds from the annual race help screen and treat women, fund educational programs, and advance research toward a cure. Approximately 75 percent of every dollar raised stays in Greater Atlanta, while 25 percent supports national efforts.

The Komen organization funds screening to detect breast cancer early, drastically improving survival outcomes. It also helps fund preventative healthcare and treatment programs for low-income women and conducts public education programs to improve awareness and understanding of breast cancer. Scientific research towards finding a cure is also funded in part through donations raised by the Komen organization during the annual races.

Dr. Deutsch and Breast Reconstruction in Atlanta

Dr. Deutsch has spent more than 30 years studying and practicing plastic and reconstructive surgery and has published multiple articles and lectures about breast reconstruction. He is honored to use his expertise to help women who have undergone a mastectomy as a result of breast cancer. During the advanced stages of breast cancer, a unilateral mastectomy (removal of one breast) or bilateral mastectomy (removal of both breasts) is often recommended to remove all cancerous tissue before it spreads to other parts of the body.

Dr. Deutsch performs breast reconstruction to restore symmetry and fullness, helping women feel whole again as they move forward after breast cancer. Reconstruction options include using autologous tissue (from your own body), tissue expansion, and implants.
After reconstruction, many women also explore complementary procedures with our team, including breast implants, a breast lift, or a breast reduction, depending on their long-term goals.

A portion of the proceeds from every breast surgery performed by Dr. Deutsch at Perimeter Plastic Surgery is donated to the Susan G. Komen organization in support of this work.

Dr. Deutsch Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Every October

October was officially recognized in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985. The American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries (now a division of AstraZeneca) formed a partnership to educate the public and encourage early detection. When breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is approximately 98 percent.

One of the most influential organizations in the early detection movement is Susan G. Komen® for the Cure. It was founded in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker as part of a promise she made to her sister, who passed away due to complications from breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen is the largest breast cancer awareness organization in the United States.

“We support Susan G. Komen each year as one of our primary philanthropic activities because the need to find a cure for breast cancer and support those who suffer from it is so great,” says Mark Deutsch, MD, medical director and plastic surgeon of Perimeter Plastic Surgery. “I’m honored to be able to contribute to such an amazing organization like Susan G. Komen, which continues to impact thousands of lives every day.”

According to the National Cancer Institute, about 1 in 8 women born in the United States will get breast cancer at some point in their lives. Every two minutes, another woman is diagnosed with this disease. This includes cancer ranging from stage zero to invasive breast cancer, the deadliest stage and form of the disease. Continued funding for breast cancer research is certainly needed.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has funded more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit organization. Since its founding, Komen has financed more than $800 million in research seeking earlier detection methods and more effective treatments, and has provided more than $1.7 billion in funding for screening, education, treatment, and psychosocial support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries.

A Personal Cause for Dr. Deutsch

Because we work with so many women who seek breast reconstruction surgery after battling breast cancer diagnosis, honoring survivors during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is important to our practice. Each year, we do so every year by donating a portion of the profits from breast surgeries performed at Perimeter Plastic Surgery to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Breast cancer is also a cause close to Dr. Deutsch’s heart on a personal level. His own mother is a breast cancer survivor.

“I feel a particularly strong pull towards supporting breast cancer awareness because of my profession, obviously, but also because of my mother, who is a breast cancer survivor,” says Dr. Deutsch. “This is our way of honoring her and every other woman who has to go through what she did.”

Early Detection Saves Lives

Until a cure is found, the best defense against breast cancer is early detection and screening. Dr. Deutsch and his staff encourage all women to have an early detection plan that includes monthly self-breast exams and yearly routine mammogram screenings for women over 40. Be familiar with your own breast tissue, and tell your doctor if you notice changes such as a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, or a change in the texture or shape of the breast tissue or nipple.

To perform a self-breast exam, look at your breasts in the mirror to see if anything appears different than normal such as new dimpling or redness. Then lie down in a comfortable position with one arm behind your head, and use the fingers of your opposite hand to feel around each breast for lumps that seem abnormal.

If you do feel something abnormal, do not panic. Many women have naturally lumpy breasts or the lumps you feel could even be a result of an ingrown hair. However, it’s important to consult with a doctor if you feel a lump you haven’t felt before with previous self-checks to be on the safe side. If you feel anything that seems abnormal, contact your doctor immediately for an expert medical opinion.

Breast Reconstruction Options at Perimeter Plastic Surgery

Anyone confronted with breast cancer and mastectomy, who may be considering breast reconstruction, is welcome to contact Perimeter Plastic Surgery with any questions or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Deutsch.

Dr. Deutsch is one of the few surgeons in Atlanta who specializes in DIEP Flap Reconstruction, a procedure that takes abdominal tissue to reconstruct patients’ breasts, resulting in a flatter stomach and natural-looking breasts. Perimeter Plastic Surgery offers several other breast reconstruction surgeries as well, including latissimus flaps, tissue expander reconstruction, and transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flaps.

Additional training at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas—one of the foremost breast cancer centers in the world—qualifies Dr. Deutsch as one of the most respected and capable breast reconstruction surgeons in Atlanta.

Dr. Deutsch’s extensive knowledge and experience in performing this specific type of treatment enable him to provide each patient with a safe and effective breast reconstruction procedure. Please call Perimeter Plastic Surgery at 404-620-6081 to book your appointment with Atlanta Plastic Surgeon Dr. Deutsch. Breast reconstruction can be the first step towards emotional recovery, helping you feel healthy and whole again.

Why Choose Perimeter Plastic Surgery for Breast Reconstruction in Atlanta?

Patients across Atlanta and Fayetteville choose Dr. Deutsch because every reconstruction plan is built on decades of surgical experience, advanced training, and a genuine commitment to breast cancer awareness.

• Double board certified plastic surgeon with more than 30 years of surgical experience.
• Additional training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, one of the leading breast cancer centers in the world.
• Specialized expertise in DIEP Flap, latissimus flap, tissue expander, and TRAM flap reconstruction.
• Active community partner and fundraising event sponsor for Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta.
• Two convenient Greater Atlanta offices and direct surgeon access at every visit.

FAQs About Breast Cancer Awareness and the Race for the Cure

1. What is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure?
   The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is an annual 5K fundraising event that supports breast cancer awareness, screening, education, treatment, and research. Proceeds help fund local programs in Greater Atlanta as well as national efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.
2. How can I participate in the Race for the Cure?
   You can register online through the Susan G. Komen website to walk, run, or donate, and you can also join Perimeter Plastic Surgery’s “Breast Team” to support the cause together. If you prefer to give without attending, donations of any amount go directly toward breast cancer awareness programs in Atlanta and beyond.

Get Involved with Perimeter Plastic Surgery

To learn more about breast reconstruction, or to join us in supporting breast cancer awareness, please call Perimeter Plastic Surgery at 404-620-6081 or visit our contact page to request a consultation. You can also explore our full list of procedures to see how our team supports women across Atlanta, Fayetteville, and surrounding communities.

Photography by Hughes Media Creative Team