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Understanding Your Options For Breast Cancer Reconstruction

By: Our Team

2/12/2020

If you had a mastectomy because of a breast cancer diagnosis, your physician may have brought up the subject of breast reconstruction. During breast reconstruction, a skilled plastic surgeon creates a new breast shape using breast implants or a flap technique, which involves transferring tissue to the bustline. If they were not preserved during the original mastectomy, nipple reconstruction and other similar procedures could be implemented to make the breasts appear natural and beautiful once again.

No matter your stage in life, it is impossible to predict how you will react to losing one or both breasts. You may even be feeling a sense of loss. For this reason, the specialists at The Face & Body Center hope to provide patients with the opportunity to restore their tissue and feel confident in their bodies again. Our caring staff will guide you through breast reconstruction options during your first consultation. To learn more or get the process started, we encourage you to schedule an appointment in Flowood and Jackson, MS.

Breast cancer reconstruction

The end goal of breast reconstruction surgery is to create a new, beautiful-looking silhouette through the use of breast implants or natural tissue. It is also important for the breasts to match as much as possible in terms of shape and position. Some patients desire immediate surgery, while others delay breast cancer reconstruction until they are ready. No matter what, the plastic surgeons at The Face & Body Center work hard to incorporate the most modern cosmetic surgery techniques and principles into reconstruction. Individuals who have suffered physical trauma or breast cancer survivors who have undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy may choose breast reconstruction for a number of reasons, including:

  • Regaining a natural breast shape

  • Fitting your bras and undergarments

  • Making the chest appear more balanced

  • Feeling better about your body

Remember that breast reconstruction is a very personal procedure. Patients should consider breast cancer reconstruction for their own personal reasons, not to fulfill someone else’s wishes or desires. At your consultation appointment, the surgeons at The Face & Body Center will examine the tissue and take a full medical history to determine if breast reconstruction is right for you. If you do not have certain medical concerns that may impair healing and you have realistic goals for the surgical outcome, you may be an excellent candidate for reconstruction. Patients who are currently undergoing radiation or similar chemotherapy should wait until their treatment is complete before seeking out plastic surgery.

Breast reconstruction options

Breast reconstruction normally falls into one of two categories. Implant reconstruction relies on the use of medical-grade saline or silicone implants, while flap reconstruction uses tissue from another part of the body to form the breast. The Face & Body Center considers a number of factors to determine whether to use implants or fat transfer, such as the patient’s body type. Our surgeons have pioneered techniques that minimize recovery time and preserve as much of the tissue as possible. Patients will be fully informed of their breast reconstruction options, including the benefits and potential risks, every step of the way.

During the first stage of the process, a member of our team will place a tissue expander inside of the breast pocket. The expander is used to stretch the skin over a certain amount of time to make room for either a breast implant or fat transfer. Patients should know that nipple reconstruction will be performed during a separate procedure. Here is a quick rundown of each option available to our patients in Flowood and Jackson, MS.

  • Latissimus Flap Technique: Tissue is transferred from the latissimus dorsi muscle, or the largest muscle in the upper body. The skin is also transferred from the back to the breast.

  • TRAM Flap Technique: Tissue and skin are taken from the lower abdomen to reshape the chest wall. This is the preferred approach for patients who do not wish to not have breast implants.

  • Implant placement: After the expander is in place, our physicians will inject saline into it every 2 – 3 weeks. Once we reach the appropriate size, our team will replace the expander with a silicone or saline implant.

Breast reconstruction surgery

While it may be a necessary part of breast cancer treatment, a mastectomy can leave women with definite hardships as they struggle with the physical and emotional impact of removing breast tissue. At The Face & Body Center, we help women move forward with breast reconstruction surgery to rebuild the shape and symmetry of their breasts. Reconstruction can help provide a more natural-looking bustline and restore lost confidence. Overall, breast reconstruction offers patients long-lasting results they can enjoy for years to come. To schedule your first appointment and learn more about breast implants or a fat transfer, reach out to our staff in Flowood and Jackson, MS today.

* All information subject to change. Images may contain models. Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary. All before and after pictures are real patients of The Face & Body Center