“ On the day of my delivery, my parents were told that I was born without a muscle under my left breast - the pectoralis major muscle.  I never knew that this condition actually had a name until I came to Dr. Pillai's office.  My condition is known as Poland syndrome, an absence or abnormality of the chest muscle.  Growing up through puberty, I noticed that my chest was forming differently.  By high school I had begun to wear a breast implant in my bra to make me look more "even" - my left breast was a size "A cup" while my right was a size "C cup."  I was always told that when I hit my early twenties, or when I stopped developing, I could see about having surgery.  The day finally came when I met with Dr. Pillai after he was recommended by my OBGYN. 
                                                                                          The day I walked into the office, April, one is his nurses, greeted me and was very polite and welcoming.  When I was taken back to the examining room, she was very gentle in explaining what would happen and assured me that she would be in the room the whole time.  As Dr. Pillai examined my chest he could tell I was extremely nervous, but said to me calmly, that everything would be ok and that there was something he could do for me. 
                                                                                                                              Now, having had the surgery, I feel like a new person.  I love being able to go bra-less, wear a tank top, get dressed in the morning without having to worry if I'm "even" and buying a bra that doesn't have a pocket in it where my implant can fit. 
                                                                                     I must be honest in saying that it took me a good two months to finally agree to have the surgery.  I considered my condition to be a physical testimony of a person living with a disablilty that had overcome it, for I still had full use of my arm, although push ups were always difficult.  I felt that if I lost the physical reminder, I would be a different person.  But, then I realized that the testimony is in my heart.  I will always have a disablitly and will always know what's it's like to live with one and overcome it.  However, now, because of Dr. Pillai, I will also know what it's like to be self-confident and feel attractive...to know that I no longer have to hide. “