Page 34 October 2011 Cosmetic surgeon strives to help healing By Brittany Morris A Valley not-for-pro fi t organization shines during Breast Cancer Awareness Month through its Pink Light District honoring, supporting and memorializing those af fl icted with breast cancer. The Arizona Institute for Breast Health (AIBH) is holding its fi fth lighting, and the switch is to be fl ipped Oct. 6 on the Marshall Way Bridge in Scottsdale. The lights will be on every night through October. The Pink Light District has become iconic for the organization that consists of a consortium of Phoenix physicians that diagnose and give women a free second opinion, and options for treatment. Although they do not treat breast cancer, AIBH is one of the fi rst organizations in the Valley to offer women this kind of free, professional advice. Christine Fenwick, the institute’s executive director and 16-year breast cancer survivor, said, “The governing and physician board at AIBH works very hard to assure that women throughout the state are offered free care. “This is our most prominent initiative that funds a lot of the advice we give,” she said. Each light is $25, and donations can be given throughout October in any amount. For more information, visit www.AIBH. org. In October, sky shines Pink Lights Dr. William Leighton By Christina Sampson Recently, a patient of Dr. William Leighton, a cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon, called him “the boob fairy.” And, given the number of pro bono breast cancer surgeries Leighton performs, his patients and the Arizona Institute of Breast Health (AIBH) may be inclined to agree. In addition to being a two-time premier sponsor of the AIBH’s Pink Light District, Leighton is on the group’s voluntary panel of physicians that gives recently diagnosed women with breast cancer a free second opinion. The Scottsdale-based surgeon contributes to various community organizations, including the Phoenix 100 Club, and has accumulated a long list of his awards, honors, appointments and achievements in the fi eld of cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. All that, and he’s a warm, affable, witty guy. “I went to (University of) Colorado because I wanted to ski and it was the No. 1 party school in the nation,” he said. “I was going to be a psychologist; that’s what I started out doing.” He went on to graduate with honors. Leighton said he has always had an interest in medicine, though, and worked in a pharmacy while in high school. “Once I saw surgery I knew I had to do it,” he said. “It was incredible, it was a whole different world; holding someone’s life in your hand.” Leighton became especially interested in microsurgery, which requires a surgical microscope and allows doctors to reattach limbs or use tissue from one part of the body to repair another part. “Using toes to create fi ngers, that kind of thing,” he said. An interest in microsurgery lead to plastic surgery and he has worked on cleft lips, burn reconstruction, breast reconstructions, and helped in the separation of Siamese twins. He does it all, “Because I can make a difference.” Leighton developed a specialty in breast cancer treatment because “women deserve it. They deserve world-class treatment.” “When the women get here they’re losing a breast, they’ll probably lose their hair because of chemo, they’re pretty devastated,” Leighton said. He likened breast reconstruction surgery to “a fl ower blooming; it’s incredible, seeing the con fi dence that patients have when they leave here,” he said. He gives his patient’s T-shirts that read: “Yes they’re fake. My real ones tried to kill me.” The surgeon is active in foundations that serve burned patients, and performed a series of surgeries on Phoenix police of fi cer Jason Schechlterle, who required complete facial reconstruction after being trapped in his burning police cruiser. The patrol car was struck and the gas tank exploded. Continued on page 43

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