A woman who has lost one or both breasts during a mastectomy can restore the appearance of her breasts with a breast reconstruction plastic surgery procedure.
This plastic surgery procedure can help improve the patient’s sense of self-worth, femininity, and confidence. But breast reconstruction is a major procedure and one that should only be undertaken by a highly skilled and experienced plastic surgeon.
At the time of the pre-op consultation, the surgeon will determine the patient as a candidate for breast reconstruction and offer recommendations on the most appropriate breast reconstruction technique. They will answer any questions or address any doubts expressed by the patient to help them make an enlightened decision.
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom provides breast reconstruction to patients in Chicago, IL, and surrounding communities.
Ideal Candidates
Good breast reconstruction candidates usually have the following characteristics:
- Interested in restoring the natural breast appearance after a mastectomy
- Is Cancer-free
- Willing to stop smoking for a specified period and follow the surgeon’s guidelines before and after the procedure
- Has coped well with the cancer diagnosis and treatment
- Is willing to commit the time necessary for various procedures
- Is positive with reasonable expectations from the procedure outcomes
The surgeon will inform the patient about the benefits and limitations of the breast reconstruction plastic surgery and offer details on the steps that are involved in the process to enable the patient to prepare properly for the surgery.
Surgical Procedure
A patient can decide to undergo breast reconstruction simultaneously with the mastectomy or wait until the mastectomy has been done, and she has recovered.
The two main techniques of breast reconstruction are flap reconstruction and implant techniques. The implant procedure involves surgically placing saline or silicone implants beneath the chest muscle.
In the flap technique, the surgeon uses excess skin, fat, and tissue from other areas of the patient’s body to remodel the breasts. The surgeon will assist the patient in determining the correct method the basis of their unique needs.
Implant Breast Reconstruction
The implant breast reconstruction cosmetic surgery procedure involves multiple stages. Initially, the surgeon will expand the chest muscle and skin by placing a balloon expander in this region.
It may take up to a few months for this area to expand enough to make space for a breast implant. Following that, the surgeon will perform the reconstructive surgery using an appropriately sized and shaped implant.
Flap Breast Reconstruction
The process initiates with the elimination of excess tissue from donor areas such as the buttocks, back, or abdomen. This tissue is purified before being grafted in the chest area. This new tissue is used to create the chest mound. Sometimes, an implant may be inserted at the same time.
The flap technique may involve more incisions, which creates slightly more scarring and warrant a more extended recovery period. However, the results of the flap method can be more natural looking and sustainable in comparison to the implant method.
Cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom receives patients from Chicago, IL, and nearby areas for breast reconstruction.