Immediate Breast Reconstruction Possibilities

When a woman has lost a breast due to cancer, there are some ways to have immediate breast reconstruction performed. This type of cancer is the most common type in females in the United States besides skin cancer. The medical community isn't sure why this disease occurs but they do know that it affects the cells. The cancerous cells begin to divide quicker than normal and grow in unusual patterns. This may lead to a tumor or to the disease spreading. When it spreads, it's known as metastasizing, and usually migrates to lymph nodes among other locations within the body. Here are some things to think about:

- Risk factors: Scientists have pinned down some risk factors that are linked to this illness. Although not everyone with these factors actually gets the disease, it does appear to be connected. On the flip side of the coin, some women with no risk factors come down with it. This is a complicated puzzle but all signs point to environment and genetic predisposition as being prime factors. Risk increases with:

- Other family members with the disease
- Having it yourself in the other breast
- Obesity
- Late menopause
- Late child-bearing (first child after age 35)
- Younger age when menstruation began
- Radiation exposure
- Genetic mutation
- Excessive alcohol consumption


- Mastectomy and lumpectomy: A mastectomy is the total removal of breast skin, fat and glandular tissue while a lumpectomy is a partial removal. This operation can be the cure for cancers that are in Stage 1 or 2. Once it's progressed beyond that, chemotherapy and radiation therapy will be added to the mix.

- Reconstruction options: There are various immediate breast reconstruction possibilities and there are some that can be performed later. When to have the surgery is a personal choice made by a patient and her doctor depending on an array of factors.

- Immediate options: These are done at the same time as the mastectomy.

- DIEP flap: A DIEP flap stands for deep inferior epigastric perforator. It is a method of removing fatty tissue and skin from the belly and creating a mound that resembles the lost breast. Another positive benefit of this procedure is that it creates a flatter, slimmer tummy.

- Implants: If there enough tissue, an implant can be placed right away. Implants are the same medical devices that are used in augmentation procedures. They are filled with either saline or silicone solution.

- Surgeries that occur later: Sometimes, reconstruction is performed in subsequent operations.

- Expander and implants: An expanding device may need to be placed in order to stretch the tissue before inflating an implant. This procedure may entail more than one operation.

- Nipple reconstruction: Nipples can be created by suturing skin into a tuck. Tattoos are often used to add dark tone to the region in order to align with the patients' skin tone.

There have been multiple advances in the detection and treatment of cancer. Ongoing research has also led to new ways of recreating a new bosom. Immediate breast reconstruction is one option for women to consider.