OVERVIEW
The diagnosis of breast cancer can have a huge impact in both your life and those around you. After undergoing curative mastectomy, there are many changes that occur both physical and emotional. Plastic surgeons are uniquely qualified to return a portion of your femininity back.
The results of breast reconstruction after mastectomy or lumpectomy can achieve a natural appearance. However, the reconstructed breast may never look or feel exactly the same as the natural breast. The goal is to return your sense of the female form.
Breast reconstruction surgery encompasses multiple steps, depending on the technique you and your skilled plastic surgeon elect. This life-changing process can begin at the time of the mastectomy or at a later date, depending on what works best for your circumstance.
Breast reconstruction plastic surgery will leave you with fuller, more feminine breasts, positively impacting your self-image.The results of breast reconstruction after mastectomy or lumpectomy can achieve a natural appearance. However, the reconstructed breast may never look or feel exactly the same as the natural breast. The goal is to return your sense of the female form.
We recognize that undergoing breast reconstruction can be both challenging and rewarding.
BENEFITS
The female breast is a defining aspect of the female form. Breast reconstruction surgery designed to restore your confidence, re-establish natural body proportion, and return you to a sense of normalcy.
OPTIONS
When reconstructing a breast, there are multiple techniques available to me. These will be discussed at length during our consultation. To give an overview, here are the most common techniques:
A staged technique for breast reconstruction using tissue expanders followed by placement of permanent breast implants
The most common technique for breast reconstruction is a staged procedure. There are usually at least 3 surgical procedures needed for completion and timeline is in conjunction with the medical treatment for breast cancer.
After the expansion is completed, the expander is removed and a breast implant is placed.
A staged technique for breast reconstruction using tissue expanders followed by placement of permanent breast implants (silicone or saline - for further details see section below).
A TRAM Flap (Transverse Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous Flap) is when the abdominal skin, fat and muscle are used to reconstruct the breast.
The first stage involves the placement of a tissue expander device under the pectoralis muscle of the chest. As the pectoralis muscle may not fully cover the implant, the use of acellular dermal matrix (ie. Alloderm, Stratice, Flex HD, or Dermamatrix). Several weeks after the placement of the expander, sterile saline is then added until the desired size is reached.
After the expansion is completed, the expander is removed and a breast implant is placed.
The last stage is the recreation of nipples. And after the healing process tattoo can be performed for a more natural look to the breast.
A TRAM Flap (Transverse Rectus Abdominis Myocutaneous Flap) is when the abdominal skin, fat and muscle are used to reconstruct the breast.
Latissimus Dorsi Flap surgery uses the muscle from your back along with skin to recreate some of the contour of the breast. The muscle may be lacking some of the needed bulk to give a sufficient breast and the use of a tissue expander followed by implant placement would be required.
