Breast Reconstruction - How it is done?

Author: Silkwood Medical

A surgical procedure known as breast reconstruction helps to reconstruct human breast to its normal proportion, size and shape after an injury, mastectomy or in other conditions which have damaged its appearance. The nipple and areola can also be restored by this surgery. Women found it quite difficult emotionally, mentally and physically, after losing breast either due to mastectomy or some other reason. It can be restored and would look just like before, enabling you to match your physical appearance and self image again.

Reconstruction surgery is considered to be one of the best ways to help a patient in moving ahead in life positively. There would be no need to use any type of breast form to fill the side of the bathing suit or bra after the surgery is done. While naked, the new breast would feel and look different than before, but the important thing is that your body would regain its proportion and balance. There are mainly two types of breast reconstruction surgery such as

  • Surgery with Implants:
  • Implants are one of the most common ways of reconstructing breasts back to its normal shape and size. You have choice in this and can choose either silicone implants or saline implants. Silicone ones are made by using a soft silicone gel which becomes quite solid later. This gel somewhat feels similar to fatty tissues found in humans. On the other hand, implants made of saline consist of a shell which is completely filled with salt water. You can take advice from a plastic surgeon to choose an implant which goes well with your body. If based in
Sydney, then you can search online to find some of the most reputed plastic surgeons in your city.

  • If you are looking forward to getting surgery with implants, then there are two options available which are delayed breast reconstruction or immediate construction. Delayed surgery is done once you heal up from the mastectomy. This is usually done in different stages and you would find it to be more common type surgery than the others. In the breast area, a tissue expander is placed and the filled with saline water for at least six months. This process helps in stretching that area and later the implant is placed in it. On the other hand immediate reconstruction is done with the mastectomy surgery. The breast is removed by oncologist and implant is placed by the plastic surgeon.
  • Tissue Flap Procedure for breast Reconstruction: This is an analogous procedure in which breasts are reconstructed using the tissues of the patient’s body. Either tissue from the upper back or from lower abdomen is used in tissue flab reconstruction procedure.

The procedure in which abdomen muscles are used is known as transverse rectus abdominus muscle flap (TRAM) and the term Latissimus Dorsi flap is used when tissue from upper back is used. Enough tissue is provided in the TRAM flap and there is no need for extra implant. Skin and fat is removed from the stomach region, so your body would be having two areas where surgery is done.