A Closer Look at Breast Reconstruction

If you have lost a breast, whether due to cancer or other reasons, you may start thinking about your options for breast reconstruction. You may be surprised to learn that breast reconstruction can produce extremely natural-looking results and may offer something better than you had before.

Breast reconstruction is more complicated than just getting a traditional breast augmentation. You have a couple of different procedures that you can select from, all of which are designed to make your body look beautiful and whole again. The specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center explain more about when you may need a breast reconstruction and what you can expect from the procedure.

When you need a breast reconstruction

If you’ve undergone a mastectomy due to breast cancer or another disease, you may need breast reconstruction. If you were born with irregularities of the chest or breast, you might also benefit from it.

But getting a breast reconstruction is a major decision, and you want to ensure that you’re in the right hands for it. You want a Board-certified surgeon with experience in performing breast reconstructions to ensure that you get the best possible results.

How to decide which type of reconstruction to get

When you make an appointment with Dr. Economides, you will review your various options for reconstructing your breasts. The basic two options are as follows:

Implant-based

One of your options for breast reconstruction is to get implants. However, although implant-based reconstructions have a shorter recovery time, some people are not good candidates for this procedure, especially if you’ve had radiation as part of your treatment.

Autologous

Autologous breast reconstruction is quite different from getting implants. Autologous reconstruction uses your own tissue to reconstruct a breast, which makes your body less likely to reject it. It’s usually done by cutting a flap of your skin, most often from your abdomen, to create the tissue for your new breast.

Then, what happens is usually a two-stage procedure. First, you’ll have implant expanders placed, and then you’ll have the breast reconstructed. Nipple reconstruction may be scheduled for a later date.

What to expect after the procedure

Whichever procedure you choose, you can expect a fairly significant recovery time. Some symptoms that are commonly associated with breast reconstruction may include the following:

• Change of sensation in your breasts
• Poor wound healing
• Tissue death (necrosis), especially at the donor site
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Fluid collection under the breast (called a seroma)

These are just possible risks of the procedure, and you may not experience any or all of these symptoms.

In addition, if you’re still undergoing radiation therapy, you may be advised to wait until after you have finished radiation to begin breast reconstruction.

Other procedures you may have done

If you had only one breast removed, you are still eligible for breast reconstruction. This is a right that’s protected by law. You can also choose to get a breast lift on either or both breasts to make them more symmetrical.

If you have had a breast removed, you can get your breasts reconstructed and feel good about your body again. Contact the specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule a consultation or make an appointment online.