I really want to break down what this new legislation — the Advancing Women’s Health Coverage Act — is proposing, why it matters, and why I’m fighting to protect the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA).At first glance, this bill looks like progress. But when I read the actual text, I was shocked. The original WHCRA guarantees that if your insurance covers your mastectomy, they have to cover your reconstruction. This new bill changes that, tying coverage only to a diagnosis of breast cancer.That means individuals with BRCA1, BRCA2, or other high-risk genetic variants who choose preventative mastectomy would lose their right to reconstruction coverage. That’s unacceptable.The bill also threatens progress we’ve made protecting access to the most modern types of breast reconstruction, like muscle-sparing procedures, by linking coverage only to outdated codes, undoing years of advocacy.It is deeply concerning to me that this bill gained bipartisan support and endorsements from major organizations before microsurgeons, patient advocates, and community stakeholders were even allowed to see the text. Transparency matters.We need to pause.We need to collaborate.Surgeons, advocates, patients, and lawmakers need to be brought to the table to make sure we strengthen WHCRA, not weaken it.How do we get involved? We don’t wait to be invited to a meeting. We create space for the conversation. Right here. If you have questions, please ask me. It’s so important that we understand what’s really at stake and I am here to help.
08/12/2025
A huge thank you to for supporting the whole team in clinic and at ! We love our new scrubs
07/30/2025
“I refuse to go down behind insurance.”
I recently joined the Podcast to talk about the good, the bad, and the deeply broken parts of our healthcare system.
I shared how I built a high-volume breast reconstruction practice serving 40% of women in Central Texas — only to be pushed to the brink by the very insurance companies that claim to support access and affordability.
What started as a mission to provide the highest-quality care in-network has turned into something else entirely. This conversation is a cautionary tale — but it’s also a call to action. I’m not giving up. I’m building something new.
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With expertise and compassion, Dr. Elisabeth Potter guides her patients to embrace self beauty and strength.
Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Elisabeth Potter holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from Princeton University and a medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine.
Building upon her expertise, Dr. Potter completed a Plastic Surgery Integrated Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a Microsurgery Fellowship at MD Anderson, one of the world’s most respected centers dedicated to cancer patient care, research, education and prevention.
Specializing in natural breast reconstruction, Dr. Potter has performed over 900 DIEP flap surgeries using patients’ natural fat and tissue. A former regulatory analyst of FDA law, Dr. Potter possesses a uniquely informed view regarding the safety and efficacy of breast implants. Tailoring treatment options to each individual, Dr. Potter and her team always put patients first. From educating women on their breast reconstructive and cosmetic surgery options to helping them achieve their very best results, Dr. Potter is committed to her patients and her role in their journey.
To help patients look and feel their personal best, Dr. Potter also offers body cosmetic surgery, including liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), and arm, thigh and body lifts. Among her dedicated staff of healthcare professionals includes Licensed Medical Aesthetician, Injection Specialist and Laser Therapist Alissa Saenz and Cosmetic Nurse Injector Ashley Sartin. Adding to her practice’s comprehensive care services, Dr. Potter and her team offer aesthetic treatments ranging from HydraFacials, microneedling, chemical peels and laser treatments to injectables and dermal fillers.
From consultation to implementation, Dr. Potter and her team provide excellent patient care every step of the way. Here’s what some of Dr. Potter’s patients have to say:
“When I became very nervous about the increasing coronavirus spread in Austin, Dr. Potter and her co-surgeon Dr. Sprunt jumped through all the hoops (including a change of hospitals) to move my cancer surgery up a week so that I could have the procedure and be out of the hospital quickly to recover and "shelter in place" at home. My recovery has been almost painless as well as anxiety- and trouble-free, and Whitney and Sarah and Heidi and all of Dr. Potter's staff have been there for me whenever I had questions or concerns. I feel very lucky that I will have Dr. Potter and her staff there for me throughout the reconstruction process. Thank you all!”
-Chrissi M.
“Dr. Potter is fabulously gifted and a warm human being. I went to her after my initial reconstruction was botched. I was so afraid I would have to go through life with one breast smaller and deformed. Dr. Potter took all the time I needed to understand what needed to happen and what she was going to do. 10 weeks later I could not be happier. Not only do my breasts match but I have a beautiful belly.”
-Julia B.
“She is incredibly caring and nurturing. She's a fierce patient advocate and will go above and beyond to care for her patients. She's friendly and funny and kind and most importantly very honest. She's not the kind of surgeon to "cut" and run. She only offers options that are in the best interest of her patients. I trust her implicitly. You won't be able to find another plastic surgeon in Austin that is more skilled and more caring than Dr. Elisabeth Potter. Guaranteed.”
