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MKMG Plastic &
Reconstructive Surgeons |
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to recreate the contour of the breast, using either a prosthesis or the woman’s own tissue. Great strides have been made in the field of breast reconstruction. While breast reconstruction may not be appropriate for everyone, many women who have undergone breast reconstruction have significant improvement in their emotional well-being. The breast reconstruction process may begin at the time of the mastectomy, or weeks to years after – patients should speak with their plastic surgeon to determine which option is best for them.
MKMG offers two different options for breast reconstruction:
RECONSTRUCTION WITH BREAST IMPLANTS
Breast Implants have been used by an estimated 1-2 million women since the early 1960’s. Breast reconstruction with implants requires a shorter operative and recuperative time, compared with tissue flap reconstruction. It is the most commonly used breast reconstruction procedure.The most common type of breast implants consist of a silicone rubber shell filled with sterile saline (salt water). Saline is used to fill the implant because it is similar to the fluids in the body. The plastic surgeon will determine if a patient is a good candidate for implant reconstruction. The reconstruction process usually occurs in stages. It begins with the placement of a breast tissue expander. During a mastectomy, the general surgeon often removes skin and breast tissue, leaving the chest tissues flat and tight. A tissue expander is placed under the remaining chest tissues. The tissue expander is a balloon-like device made from elastic silicone rubber. At the time of insertion, the expander is unfilled. Over time, small amount of sterile saline are added by inserting a small needle through the skin to the filling port device. The tissues will gradually begin to expand eventually creating a breast shaped pocket for a breast implant. The tissue expander placement occurs under anesthesia in an operating room. Operative time is generally 1-2 hours. Once the tissue expander is removed, the unfilled breast implant is placed in the pocket and then filled with sterile saline. Breast implants are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. The final stages may include creation of a nipple/areola.
RECONSTRUCTION WITH TISSUE FLAPS
The breast can also be reconstructed by surgically moving a section of skin, fat and muscle from one area of the body to another. The section of tissue is typically taken from either the abdomen (TRAM Flap – Transverse Abdominus Musculocutaneous Flap) or upper back (Latissimus Dorsi Flap).The tissue flap may be left attached to the blood supply and moved to the breast area through a tunnel under the skin (a pedicled flap), or it may be removed completely and reattached to the breast area by microsurgical techniques (a free flap). Operating time is typically longer for a free flap. The benefits of Flap surgery are a more natural fell and appearance of the reconstructed breast. Flap surgery, though is a major more complex operation than implant reconstruction and requires a hospital stay of several days and a longer recovery time. Flap surgery also creates surgical scars at the site where the tissue was taken from, and on the reconstructed breast. Flap surgery can also be used to improve the appearance of a lumpectomy site if desired. The plastic surgeon will help to determine if a patient is a good candidate for Tissue Flap Surgery. |
