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Breast reconstruction

Reconstructive mammoplasty

 

After surviving breast cancer, after an accident or after a disease that required the removal of one or both breasts, a woman’s self-esteem and confidence in her physical appearance can suffer. With breast reconstruction, a woman is able to recover the look of her breasts, providing renewed confidence and allowing her to wear clothes with various neckline and bathing suits. Schedule your consultation and we will help determine the best treatment for your expectations and anatomy.

Breast reconstruction procedure

The plastic surgeon will decide the type of breast reconstruction that best suits the needs of the patient with the following factors:

 

  • The patient’s general health.
  • Shape and size of breast.
  • Size and location of cancer.
  • Unremoved skin and tissue.
  • The type of breast reconstruction preferred by the patient.

Breast reconstruction techniques

The following techniques are available for mammaplasty:

  • Saline or silicone implants: Mammary reconstruction with implants is performed in two phases. In the first one, the surgeon will place a tissue expander made of silicone, which then will be filled with a saline solution to increase the breast bag where the implant will be introduced. In the second phase, the surgeon will remove the tissue expander and replace it with the mammary implant, which can be either silicone-based or saline solution-based.

 

  • Breast reconstruction using their own skin, fat or muscle: For this technique, the surgeon sculpts the breast with skin, fat or muscle of another part of the body. After the mastectomy, the patient will be left with skin, nipple and/or areola, depending of the selected surgery.

 

  • Combination of both methods: Both techniques are used in a combination procedure to obtain better results.

Limitations and risks of breast reconstruction

As with most surgical procedures, breast reconstruction surgery is not free from risks, among them:

 

  • Adverse reactions to anesthesia.
  • Blood accumulation beneath the skin that must be removed.
  • Infection.
  • Bruises.
  • Allergic reactions.
  • Unsatisfactory results that could lead to additional procedures.

 

Other risks related to breast reconstruction are:

  • Fat necrosis.
  • Blood clots in legs or lungs.
  • Loss of sensitivity from the donor tissue and in the reconstruction area.

Care and recovery after breast reconstruction surgery

After the breast reconstruction surgery, the surgeon must provide information and detailed instructions to the patient for postoperative care, symptoms that could arise and signs of possible complication. Moreover, the surgeon must discuss the recovery time-frame before the patient may return to normal activity.

 

Immediately after breast reconstruction, the patient may experience dizziness or tiredness when awaking, as well as pain even with medication. Swelling and reddening are normal results following the procedure. The patient must use compression to improve circulation in the legs.

 

Breast reconstruction with implants is the simplest procedure, the least painful and with the shortest recovery time. Patients will be able to do almost every type of physical activity in two or three weeks. Other procedures are much more demanding and require longer recovery time, depending on the person.

 

During the patient’s stay at the hospital, she must walk for a set time to help blood circulation, avoiding blood clot formation in the legs. The incision will be covered with bandages and the patient will use a support brassiere to minimize swelling. The time the patient will stay at the hospital will be determined by her general health, the breast reconstruction technique used and the progress she makes while recovering.

 

Once at home, the patient must rest for most of the day, walking three to four times during the day with aid. The surgeon will give the patient exercises to accelerate the recovery time.

 

Breast reconstruction is for people who:

— Do not have circulatory problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, autoimmune diseases or rheumatoid arthritis, among others.
— Are not overweight.
— Do not smoke.
— Have realistic expectations and goals.