Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be overwhelming. It is important to remember that if faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, you will have choices on how, and if, you would like to undergo breast reconstruction following removal of cancer.
For women who opt for breast reconstruction following mastectomy, there are two main options – using implants to create a breast mound or using your own body tissue to reconstruct.
Breast reconstruction options
Implant breast reconstruction
When considering implant-based reconstruction, there are different approaches depending on the patient’s bodily build, breast size, and desired cosmetic and aesthetic goals. Breast reconstruction procedures work well on women who are reconstructing two matching breasts or who are reconstructing a breast to match an existing “perky” breast that is no larger than a “DD” cup size.
Traditionally, tissue expanders would be placed under the muscle to slowly stretch the tissue over time so that it could then be replaced with a permanent implant. This option would require the first surgery to place the expander (usually at the time of mastectomy) and then weekly or bi-weekly visits to the doctor’s office to add water to expand the skin; a second, outpatient surgery would then be performed to remove the tissue expanders and replace with permanent implants.
Many surgeons today are using tissue grown in a lab (ADM) to create a pocket between the chest wall and the skin where an implant can be placed. This procedure is called “one-step” or “straight-to-implant” reconstruction and it can be done on patients who have enough skin left following the mastectomy to accommodate the desired size implant. For example, this may be a good option if you want to recreate the same or smaller size breast following mastectomy and had a skin-sparing mastectomy performed.
Tissue/flap breast reconstruction
For body tissue (or flap) reconstruction, excess tissue will be removed from a different part of the body and transferred to the chest to recreate a breast mound. This procedure is good for women who do not want to use implants or who are trying to reconstruct a breast to match a natural, drooping breast of any size.
Dr. Laliberte at Radiance Plastic Surgery Specializes in the Implant + Latissimus Dorsi Flap Reconstruction.
During latissimus dorsi flap reconstruction surgery, an incision is made in your back near your shoulder blade. Then, an oval section of skin, fat, blood vessels, and muscle is slid through a tunnel under the skin under your arm to your chest and formed into a breast shape. This provides added coverage over an implant and makes a more natural-looking breast than just an implant alone. This type of reconstruction can sometimes be used without an implant. Rarely, some women can have weakness in their back, shoulder, or arm after this surgery.
Breast reconstruction recovery
For implant reconstruction, the surgery is usually outpatient with a 4-6 week healing time before returning to normal activities. However, if the reconstruction is done at the same time as the mastectomy, patients may need a brief stay in the hospital, typically only one night. The up-front recovery tends to be less involved than tissue flap surgery, but there is a higher potential down the road for more surgery because of changes in implant location or integrity.
In tissue flap reconstruction, the initial surgery is more involved and may require a hospital stay of 2-5 days with a 3-6 month recovery before returning to all normal activities. There is a donor site that needs to heal, as well as the chest area. But, once healed, the body flap reconstructive surgeries tend to require little-to-no maintenance surgery down the road.
The choice to undergo breast reconstruction is yours
Most importantly, patients should remember that they have a choice and should discuss all the different options with their board-certified plastic surgeon to determine the best reconstructive option to achieve their goals and desires.
If you think breast reconstruction is right for you and you want to speak to a board-certified plastic surgeon, contact Dr. Laliberte and our healthcare team at Radiance Plastic Surgery.
