-great initial consultation and expectation management about reconstructive surgery
-work is aesthetic/ artistic
-the amount of skill and training required to do the flap surgeries she does is extensive, she is very professional in those abilities
-primarily interested in appearance and closed to hearing or investigation patient concerns, especially subjective or related to internal complications
-poor oversight of residents and fellow physicians in follow up visits
-helpful support team i.e. admin and CNS
-initially closed to referral to a different physician
-she's great, but even great professionals can make mistakes and several interactions left the feeling she did not believe a mistake on such a large surgery was possible, leading to delays in the treatment thereof

Submitted April 21, 2024

Dr. Zhong saved my life from flesh eating disease! She is an angel! If it wasn't for her I wouldn't be here! I will never forget her. The most amazing and caring doctor I've ever had!

Submitted March 7, 2024

Super efficient - you just feel that she has everything under control. 100% the kind of doctor you need when you are going through such a traumatic operation. Not the warmest of personalities, but that really doesn't matter, because she exudes professionalism and control which made me feel comfortable and in supremely capable hands!

Submitted Sept. 15, 2023

She is an amazing surgeon and nothing but amazing things to day about her and her staff. I had the diep flap surgery and am I very impressed with the outcome. I am now 7 months post op I belive

Submitted July 11, 2023

Very simple : AMAZING SURGEON AND HUMAN BEING !!!

A.R.

Submitted Jan. 31, 2023

I first met Dr. Zhong during the 2019 BRA Day as she was one of the panelists. Each panelist had a patient who spoke about their experience, and what stood out to me is that Dr. Zhong’s patient was in her 70s. She commented that age was not a factor for looking and feeling better in Dr. Zhong’s books. Despite being 48 years old at the time, I was doubting whether it’s vain to go for a breast reconstruction consultation, so hearing this message of hope from another patient struck the perfect chord. I then spoke directly with Dr. Zhong during the Education Tables section of the event. Despite the number of attendees lining up to speak with her, she took the time to listen, asked me pointed questions, then directed me to how to get referred to her by my breast surgeon.

Unfortunately, as Dr. Zhong’s team was trying to book my surgery, COVID hit and everything came to a halt. I re-contacted Dr. Zhong’s office in 2021 and has been under her care since. Dr. Zhong met with me and we discussed my initial plan to have a DIEP flap reconstruction. With a new job and a shift in available family support, we agreed that breast implants became a better option. I have the usual straight mastectomy line on my right side, but the tumor on the left side was very close to the skin so the breast surgeon had to remove a lot of skin and create a rotation flap to close the incision. This resulted in a very oddly shaped scar that extends all the way from my underarm downwards, then turns in a semi-circle well into my chest. Being very boney in the chest meant that I also had many indentations along the scar line. Dr. Zhong tailored my reconstruction plans accordingly. She first performed a fat transplant from my stomach to the chest, and that in of itself made a HUGE difference. I was able to look at my scars without getting jarred for the first time in 2 years. She’s since inserted my tissue expanders, and despite the fact that expanders have a weird shape and are quite solid, I am beyond grateful for the transformation. It is literally live changing. I look normal in clothes again and I have a profound sense of restoration. Dr. Zhong placed the expanders perfectly and worked around a tricky mastectomy incision. The closure she created is perfection and is a major improvement to the way my scars look. I just can’t wait to see the final results in January after my exchange surgery.

There are inevitable cancellations and delays that happen during the reconstruction journey, but that is as symptom of an overburdened health system – Dr. Zhong and her team have to prioritise urgent cases and adapt to unexpected situations. Whenever something like this happened, they called, apologized, and explained why it happened. They were very sympathetic to my inevitable disappointment and did all they could to rebook as soon as possible.

Dr. Zhong, Dr. Nadim Joukhadar, Amanda, Agnes, Camille, and most recently Francesca: thank you so much for taking care of me. Thank you for the tears of joy that roll out of my eyes every time I look in the mirror and see the results of your amazing dedication to patient care. I wish you a wonderful holiday season and an amazing 2023!

Submitted Dec. 20, 2022

I am a surgeon who trusted my own reconstruction in the hands of Dr. Zhong and her team after much research. It has been one of the best and biggest decisions I have made. Undergoing bilateral mastectomies at a young age for cancer was scary and life altering to say the least. Technically she is excellent and met with me on several occasions and took her time to listen to my goals. At the end, she recommended a reconstructive approach most in line with my expectations. I was reconstructed in two stages, expanders followed by implants. She planned every little detail from the incisions to my cleavage for an optimal natural look. It took patience, time, trust in the process and following Dr. Zhong's recommendations to a T. I must say 6 months later I am very pleased with the results and do not miss my old breasts. She gave me my confidence back.

Submitted Dec. 9, 2022

I had a horrendous bilateral reconstruction with Toni Zhong. She left me with scars that look like I was butchered and I’ve since had to undergo multiple revision surgeries. She constant made me feel like I was nothing her because I was advocating for myself. Please beware!

Submitted Nov. 3, 2022

At 2 months post surgery (lumpectomy + balancing/breast reduction), I could not be happier with the care by Dr. Zhong and her team as well as their coordination with my surgical oncology team through Princess Margaret and Toronto General. At no time have I ever felt I wasn't in the hands of a knowledgeable & talented (though also busy) professional.

Of course, my first concern is the cancer - I'm grateful we caught it early (thank you, eagle-eyed mammogram technician at Mt. Sinai!). With my initial shock, my kneejerk impulse was to go for a full double-mastectomy; not an unusual first reaction Dr. Zhong told me. Though efficient with her time, she was still patient, and told me I'd be supported, if that was my final decision, but first I was presented with more data.

After calming down and going over my options, I decided NOT to 'go nuclear' on a relatively manageable tumour. Instead, I had a lumpectomy (with sentinel node removal) alongside an overall breast reduction as part of the balancing (I don't have insurance so it was important to keep my procedures within the bounds of OHIP coverage).

I'm so grateful Dr. Zhong discussed the breast reduction alternative. I'd have happily taken them down to an A-cup (started out H) but the possible complications were explained carefully and, I agreed it was safer to aim for D(-ish). It was also explained that the combination of swelling from the surgery and possible shrinkage from following radiation treatments, etc. make it virtually impossible to predict the final size precisely. My main goal was the health benefits of any (safely) possible reduction but, not only am I down to a D-cup, but I think I may be more symmetrical than when I started (bonus!).

The hour before surgery, Dr. Zhong + two team members joined my surgical oncologist to carefully coordinate and draw my upcoming incisions (with Sharpie marker on my torso) to make sure everyone was in agreement on how both surgeries would proceed. At a moment when I could have felt like a human whiteboard, Dr. Zhong made certain to include me in the conversation which was very humane & comforting. I knew I was in good hands.

Post-op benefits have been immediate: reduced stress knowing I have less breast tissue for cancer recurrence, greater ease in future screenings like mammograms, and the huge reduction in neck & back pain making work & exercise easier. I'd do it again, in a snap!

Additionally, the degree of craftsmanship on my incisions is beyond my wildest dreams! A number of friends & family had reductions by different practitioners and I know how rough & raw the results can be - one cousin needed additional surgery months later just to deal with gaping scars.

Dr. Zhong, however, is an absolute artist! There's just no comparing her lovely "boat anchors" to the definitely-more-scar-y incision of the surgical oncologist's team (though I'm not complaining, at all! - the tumour is safely out and I couldn't be more delighted with their work, too!). Even after a month managing three drains, I've healed beautifully.

Everyone who sees my incisions (my wound care team, close friends, other medical professionals) comment on what an incredible job Dr. Zhong did. At a recent follow-up with my surgical oncologist, he commented to one of his team, "Wow! She does beautiful work, doesn't she?" and my medical oncologist at another hospital, on hearing who had been responsible said, "Ah, well. She's the best".

Dr. Zhong can be brisk but I expect that of any surgeon who's time is at a premium, especially in this pandemic era when they are working through the backlog, trying to care for as many people as possible. Between her and her team (Nadim, Agnes, Lydia, & Camille, to name a few) I've been able to get all my questions answered , no matter how arcane.

My one minor issue: it was sometimes difficult getting phone calls returned in a timely manner - I'm not on the UHN portal and, as I have a shared landline, convincing the team to wait through the message so I could pick up was a challenge . That single point aside, I feel very confident they're all with me through this very challenging chapter.

I couldn't wish to be in better hands.

Submitted Oct. 2, 2022

I was referred to Dr. Zhong in May 2021 and could not be more grateful. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and being in my early 40s I was devastated. After my first meeting with Dr. Zhong I knew I was in the best hands possible.
As I made the decision to get a bilateral mastectomy my surgical oncologist told me to sit tight and he would see if the reconstructive surgeon would see me. Dr. Zhong made time in her schedule and squeezed me in. She gave me all my options for reconstructive surgery. She took the time to hear all my concerns and listen to my fears. Being so young she was honest with me and advised against implants and suggested I go with a DIEP flap surgery. She took the time to explain the procedure to me, what healing time would entail, and what my scars would look like.Dr. Zhong was so honest and empathetic that by the end of my appointment a lot of my anxiety was gone and I knew I had a highly skilled and intelligent surgeon on my side.
Her admin Camille is wonderful She made me feel like her friend. Everything happens so fast and Camille always took the time to hear me out. She was very helpful and always gets back to me in a timely manner whether over the phone or through email.
I'm looking forward to my revision surgery, and can't wait to be introduced to my new body.
Thank you Dr. Zhong for giving me my confidence back after this awful mountain I had to climb. You and your team are incredible and I don't even want to think where I would be without you.

Submitted Sept. 23, 2022