The Effect of Breast Reconstruction
For most mastectomy patients, breast reconstruction dramatically improves their appearance and quality of life. The latest medical techniques and equipment make it possible for surgeons to create a breast that can come close in form and appearance to that of a natural breast.
The Breast Reconstruction Procedure
Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to restore the appearance of a breast for women who have under gone a mastectomy to treat breast cancer. The surgery rebuilds the breast contour and if desired the nipple and areola.
Reconstruction is possible immediately following mastectomy, so the patient awakes with a reconstructed breast already in place. A number of techniques are available to assist reconstruction:
Candidates for Breast Reconstruction
Most mastectomy patients are medically appropriate for reconstruction, with the best candidates being women whose cancer, as far as it can be determined, has been eradicated by a mastectomy.
Many patients can undergo the reconstruction at same time the natural breast is removed.
Risks
All surgery carries risk, and you should be fully aware of the medical risks associated with this procedure before you consent to surgery. Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you during your consultation, and you are encouraged to ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
More details about your consultation.
You will be required to sign a consent form before surgery stating that you have been informed of the risks involved; that you understand those risks; and that you accept those risks. This is standard hospital protocol and surgery will not be performed if you do not sign.
More details about the required forms.
It is your obligation to inform your surgeon of key medical information that may influence the outcome of your surgery or may increase the level of risk. These include medications you are taking, history of disease, medical complications, etc.
Risks and risk rates vary from patient to patient depending on a range of factors. No two people are alike. The risks listed below are possible risks associated with this type of surgery and are mentioned regardless of how remote the possibility:
Bleeding, fluid collection, excessive scar tissue. Poor healing resulting in conspicuous scarring or skin loss. Tissue necrosis. Capsular contracture - the scar or capsule around the implant tightening. Need for a second operation. Breast implants ultimately require replacement.
More details about the risks involved in plastic surgery
Reconstruction has no known effect on the recurrence of disease in the breast, and it does not generally interfere with chemotherapy or radiation treatment, should the cancer recur.
Periodic mammograms are often recommended on both the reconstructed and the remaining normal breast. Make sure you use a radiology center with experience of obtaining reliable x-rays of breasts reconstructed with implants.
Surgery
Time required: 1-5 hours (on top of any mastectomy procedure before hand).
Anesthesia: General anesthetic for the main operation. Follow up procedure may only require local anesthetic.
Further Reading
The American Cancer Society - Breast Reconstruction
Please note that this information should be used only as a guide to your treatment. All specifics will be discussed with your Physician at your consultation.
If you have questions that are not answered in this website, then please contact us.
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