Breast reconstruction

Women with breast cancer have two main considerations when considering reconstructive breast surgery—when to have surgery and what type of surgery to have.
Breast reconstruction utilizes several plastic surgery techniques to restore a breast to near normal shape and appearance following mastectomy
The goal of breast reconstruction is to restore one or both breasts to near normal shape, appearance, symmetry and size following mastectomy, lumpectomy or congenital deformities.

When to Have Reconstructive Breast Surgery???

• Simultaneous breast reconstruction:
  Women have the option to have immediate reconstruction of their breast(s) at the same time as their mastectomy. This is a reasonable option for patients who do not need breast irradiation.
• Staged breast reconstruction:
  Many women who require radiation therapy are advised to have staged breast reconstruction instead of simultaneous reconstruction. If radiation is done on a newly reconstructed breast, over time it can alter its cosmetic appearance, making an implant hard, painful, deformed, contracted or even exposed. It may also cause severe fibrosis or shrinkage of the fatty tissue that may have been used in rebuilding the breast.
  A tissue expander will be inserted after mastectomy to keep the breast skin that was saved during the skin sparing mastectomy procedure stretched and supple in preparation for the final reconstruction, which will be done several months after radiation is completed.
• Delayed breast reconstruction:
  A woman may opt for delayed reconstruction if a plastic surgeon was not involved after her mastectomy. Many women did not know their breast reconstruction options at the time of mastectomy. More and more they’re discovering that surgically recreating their breasts is possible.

Types of Breast Reconstruction-

A woman’s breast can be reconstructed in following ways:

• Implants: Implants are made out of silicone and can be inserted during or after a mastectomy. They are placed underneath the chest muscle versus on top of it, as in the case of breast augmentation.
• Flaps: breast is created using tissue taken from other parts of the body, such as the abdomen, back, or buttocks, or thighs, which is then transplanted to the chest by reconnecting the blood vessels to new ones in the chest region. This type of procedure is also called as autologous breast reconstruction.
  Breast reconstruction using –
  Flaps – TRAM Flaps and latissimus dorsi flaps
  Microvascular free flap – DIEP flap for breast reconstruction.
  There are no physical limitations with the more sophisticated procedures performed at our Breast Centre. Experience is Critical for the Best Cosmetic Results. Preserving as much of the natural look and feel of a woman’s breasts as possible is also of great concern to our surgeons.
• Using Fat Grafting for Breast Reconstruction: In addition, we try to give women the look and feel of an actual breast, using creative techniques such as fat grafting, also known as lipofilling or fat transfer. Fat can be taken from another part of your body, possibly the abdomen or somewhere on your buttocks, through liposuction. The fat will be purified and carefully layered within the new breast to create the desired shape.