Breast Reconstruction - After a Mastectomy

Breast reconstruction surgery is performed to rebuild the area following a mastectomy. It is a more complicated and involved procedure, but it yields fantastic results. This article discusses in detail the process behind this fascinating cosmetic surgery.

A mastectomy is performed to treat or prevent cancer. In this process, the breast is removed, creating the need for a reconstruction to regain what was lost and return the upper body to what it was prior to the cancer. There are times the rebuilding portion is completed at the time of the mastectomy, or it can be done in a separate process at a later time.

The process of breast reconstruction sometimes takes a few different surgeries to complete. The end result will resemble the look and contour that was there previously, but there will not be the same feeling and sensation as before.

During the process, the surgeon will place the implants behind the chest muscle, similar to that of a regular augmentation surgery. However, in the cases where tissue expanders are utilized, a second procedure is required to place the expander with a permanent implant.

Tissue expanders are enlarged sequentially over the course of a few months. This is done by filling the expanders a little at a time with saline through a small valve in the sac. Tissue expanders allow the skin and surrounding muscle to be stretched over time, resulting in less pain.

Nipples are optional in the rebuilding process. Sometimes they are applied via tattoo, and other times patients opt out of nipples altogether, choosing to finish the process and move on a little sooner.

Breast reconstruction eliminates the need for any external prosthesis and looks very natural. Women often choose this procedure as a way of returning to their pre-cancer self and putting it all behind them.

This procedure is also effective for women who have had a single mastectomy, as it restores symmetry and balance to their bodies. Patients can regain their lost self esteem following this surgery and feel themselves again.

Patients are advised to consult with their plastic surgeon prior to any procedure, because numerous factors must be considered and planning must be concise to optimize the surgeries available and provide more thorough care. There are times when rebuilding must be delayed until completion of radiation or any other cancer treatment, and your cosmetic surgeon will need time to collaborate with the other service providers involved. For more information on reconstructive options, call your surgeon today.