Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy
There are several techniques available for the recreation of a breast that is removed because of cancer. Breasts can be created at the same time as the mastectomy, or years later. Techniques include the use of prosthetic material, or breast implants, as well as your body's own tissue. Dr. Skolnik and Dr. Schulman will be happy to discuss all the options with you and help you choose a technique that best suits your needs and body type. We work closely with your oncologist and breast surgeon throughout the entire reconstruction process to provide you with optimal care.
Body + Breast Reconstruction - Implant Reconstruction - Immediate + Breast Reconstruction - Nipple Reconstruction + Breast Reconstruction - TRAM 1 + Breast Reconstruction - TRAM 2 + Breast Reconstruction - TRAM 3 + Breast reconstruction - LD flap
This 45 year old female was diagnosed with breast cancer and she elected to undergo bilateral mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction with breast implants. This was a staged procedure that involved placement of breast tissue expanders at the same time as the mastectomies. After adequately stretching the skin over the next several months, she underwent removal of these tissue expanders and replacement with permanent saline breast implants. She later underwent nipple reconstruction and nipple-areolar tattooing.
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Yes. We work closely with your breast surgeon and can perform breast reconstruction during the same operation. This "immediate" reconstruction can offer a significant psychological advantage to the patient.
Yes. "Delayed" reconstruction can be performed even if your mastectomy was many years ago. This is an option for women who were not candidates for immediate reconstruction at the time of mastectomy, or who did not desire reconstruction at the time.
Generally, temporary implants, or "tissue expanders", are placed at the time of surgery and are inflated gradually. This expansion process allows the skin to stretch and takes a few months. Expanding the implants is a painless process and is performed in the office. After your skin is adequately stretched, these "expanders" are exchanged for "permanent" breast implants.
Donor tissue can come from many different areas of your body. The most common areas are from the abdomen or from the back. Which area is chosen will depend on your body type and the size of the breast that you desire. Sometimes, if the donor tissue is not enough to produce the size breast that you desire, your surgeon may recommend the additional placement of breast implants.
Yes. We work closely with your oncologist and breast surgeon, and the reconstructive technique that we recommend may depend on whether or not you will require radiation or chemotherapy. In general, your body's own tissue tends to heal better than breast implants when subjected to radiation. If you require chemotherapy, the reconstructive options remain the same, however, the timing of your surgical treatment must be coordinated with your chemotherapy treatments.
Yes, but not at the same time as the reconstruction. A new nipple can be created several months later and after you have healed adequately. This is a minor procedure, done under local anesthesia. Color is added to the nipple and the skin around the nipple (areola) through tattooing.
We work to make your breasts match as closely as possible. Your doctor may recommend a "symmetry procedure" on the other breast in order to make a better match. This may include a breast lift, breast reduction, or breast augmentation. Much of this depends on the size and shape of your other breast. Your doctor will be able to tell you if you will likely benefit from a symmetry procedure on the other breast.