Breast Reconstruction Restores Shape With Implants

When a woman loses her breast after a mastectomy, breast reconstruction techniques can restore her shape in a variety of ways. One popular method that plastic surgeons use is inserting devices called implants. These devices come in an array of sizes, shapes and can be filled with silicone or saline. Here are some things to think about:

- Breast cancer: It's a devastating piece of news to learn that a lump that's been found is due to cancer. Through physicians' exams, self exams, and mammograms, cancerous tumors are discovered in women around the world every day.

- Treatment: Luckily, there is medical treatment available to eradicate the disease. A mix and match combination of radiation, chemotherapy and surgical removal have been found to be extremely effective in curtailing the spread of the cancerous cells.

- Mastectomy: This is a surgical procedure to remove tissue either from the entire breast or just a portion. A lumpectomy is a modified procedure that removes as small a segment as possible. These operations are especially effective in patients who have Stage 1 of the disease. The further stages indicate that the disease has spread to various regions of the body.

- The implants: Implants are medical devices that can be inserted into the region to give a rounded and natural appearance to the chest region after mastectomy. These devices may be placed immediately following the removal of diseased tissue or may be placed at a later date. Either way usually involves more than one surgery.

- The procedure: Before placing implants, doctors often use an expanding device to stretch out the cavity in order to create enough room to insert an implant, which is a rounded sac of fluid. The surgeon inserts this sac behind the pectoral muscle, which is in the chest region. Sometimes this can be done at the same time as a mastectomy. Other times, an expander will need to be placed first.

- Expanders: Expanders are designed to stretch out the tissue in the region gradually. They are much like a balloon that is filled up over time in order to allow skin to adapt to the expanding process.

- Risks: As with all medical procedures, reconstructive operations have some risk involved. Possible complications could include infection, excessive bleeding, rupture of the implant, additional surgeries and loss of sensation in the area.

- Benefits: One of the main benefits of reconstructive surgery is that the patient feels better about her appearance. When a person feels confident and at peace with herself, her immune system will be functioning at a higher capacity.

If a woman is facing a cancer diagnosis, she will be entering a challenging phase in her life. With a competent team of physicians such as a radiologist, oncologist and plastic surgeon, she will be able to get through it and will oftentimes be stronger for the experience. Many people who have survived cancer have not only lived to tell about it but found that they savored their lives to such a degree from that time all, that this difficult chapter ended up being a turning point to a better quality of life.