Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is an important facet in the treatment of breast cancer. It is extremely important, not only to remove the cancerous tissue, but reconstruct that tissue in a way to permit the patient to go on with her life and remove any "type" of deformities. Breast reconstruction has advanced greatly over the years and it is now possible to start breast reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy. There are techniques for breast reconstruction in which to reconstruct a woman's breast. At the time of the mastectomy, or a later date, a device called a tissue expander, which is basically an empty filler bag, can be surgically placed underneath the pectoralis major muscle of the chest. Over time, the tissue expander is inflated in the doctor's office. It then begins to resemble the patient's opposite breast. At a second operation the filler expander, which is saline, is removed and replaced with either saline or a silicone gel implant to complete the reconstruction. At that time, the nipple can also be reconstructed and thereby the reconstructive process for the breast is completed. Sometimes it is necessary to either lift or even increase or decrease the opposite breast to obtain symmetry.

Breast reconstruction can also be performed using the patient's own tissue. This can involve using the abdominal tissue(TRAM flap) to not only provide a "new" breast, but also an abdominoplasty in the process.