BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is essentially about the recreation of the breast, which involves a variety of procedures that are performed in order to restore the form and shape of the breast.

Factors such as anatomy, your aesthetic goals or the need for any postoperative chemotherapy or radiation therapy will determine your options.

Discussing mastectomy and reconstruction with me is of vital importance, because the proposed cancer surgery can significantly affect the choices and results of each type of breast reconstruction.

When to consider breast reconstruction:

• If you think that the reconstruction will promote psychological well-being or give you a sense of fulfillment.
• If you believe that the reconstruction will help you emotionally as regards your femininity and the confidence in your appearance.
• If symmetry has to be improved due to the fact that only one of your breasts has been affected.

During the clinical examination we will discuss all possible versions of breast reconstruction openly and in detail.

After the reconstruction you will not need special bras to cover the damage, while it is a way to erase the “reminders” of mastectomy and the negative and distressing experience of cancer.

It will definitely help you feel better and regain confidence in your sexuality. Clearly there are disadvantages that you should take into account. Breast reconstruction means an additional operation, medical appointments and, possibly, extra costs, while the feel of your breasts will be different after the restoration.

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How to know if you need reconstruction after a mastectomy

• The results are better if you are not overweight.
• You must not have circulatory problems or other serious health problems, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Diabetes and autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma, increase the risk of injury and of healing problems or infections. Also, clotting disorders may increase the risk involved in breast reconstruction.
• Smoking affects blood flow and may cause problems after surgery and delay healing.
• Radiation therapy significantly affects the time and even the type of breast reconstruction. It delays wound healing and may cause skin lesions.
• The recovery may be delayed for months after the radiation therapy and may entail the use of your own tissue to replace diseased skin.
• Chemotherapy after the mastectomy may also affect the timing of the surgery.
• Past surgical history, medical history, and co-morbidities are factors that determine whether this surgery is right for you.

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How breast reconstruction is performed after a mastectomy

In the initial operation, I will insert an expander (tissue expander) under the skin and muscles of the chest. The expander is a modified implant in which continuous saline solution injections are administered during visits to the clinic. For two to six months, the skin is stretched in order to create the necessary excess skin that will allow the permanent placement of the silicone implant.

In the next phase, the patient will undergo surgery during which the expander is removed and replaced with a softer breast implant.

With a silicone implant, the size of your breasts cannot be changed unless you have another surgery.

In some rare cases of women we can directly insert a silicone implant without stretching the skin with the use of an expander.

The loss of a breast is a difficult experience, but in no way should you insist on its permanence.