Getting Breast Reconstruction After A Mastectomy

Dec 22
09:21

2011

Aloysius Aucoin

Aloysius Aucoin

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Getting breast reconstruction after a mastectomy helps women regain self-esteem and overall happiness. Cancer survivors do not have to lose a positive self-image in their victory.

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Surviving cancer is a devastating fight no matter which part or organ of your body is involved. But for many women,Getting Breast Reconstruction After A Mastectomy Articles breast cancer is particularly destructive because it robs them of a large part of their self-esteem and sense of identity as a woman. While the majority of women would never admit that their self-esteem or sense of beauty as a woman is related to the fatty tissue in their chest, breast reconstruction, and implant augmentation remains the most popular elective cosmetic procedure in the world. This forces us to analyze the situation and ask the question: how important are breasts to a woman's sense of beauty and self-esteem?

Researchers that studied women after bilateral mastectomy operations to remove cancer or prevent cancer in families with a strong genetic history found a link between increased self-esteem and breast reconstruction. Those women that had implants placed or used their own abdominal fat tissue to recreate their breasts felt better about themselves three weeks after the mastectomy than women who didn't.This study helps show that quality of life can significantly be improved in women that are fighting cancer and have to undergo what is often a devastating procedure. Breast reconstruction is a relatively simple procedure that can have dramatic and long-lasting results.

However, there was one caveat to the study. Researchers found that women who used abdominal fat tissue to recreate their breast tissue were happier than those that had saline or silicone implants placed. Something about using their own tissue and the double elective surgery may help psychologically mend what is often a broken body after cancer. The research company has gone on to reproduce their results in other groups of women around the world and the questionnaire is available in 12 different languages to help patients and their doctors evaluate how the woman is feeling before and after surgery.

This research is very important to the field of breast reconstruction because it helps doctors identify a relatively easy way to improve self-esteem, increase sense of beauty, and promote femininity in women that are struggling with or surviving cancer. This information enables physicians to communicate with their patients and helps patients communicate their needs to their physicians. In the end, promoting happiness and helping patients enjoy their life is what medicine is all about. This type of elective cosmetic surgery is just one way physicians can improve quality of life.