Dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. Depending on the stage of cancer and other factors, different treatment plans will be developed by your oncologist. When surgery is performed women can deal with significant emotional repercussions associated with losing a breast or breasts. For many women their breasts are a source of femininity and the loss of them due to mastectomy can be a very difficult part of treatment.
Working with your oncologic surgeon, we can determine at what point breast reconstruction can be performed. Reconstruction can take place concurrently with the mastectomy or lumpectomy or it can be delayed and performed later. Immediate breast reconstruction is the procedure of choice giving the patient the best outcome with no significant time dealing without a breast mound. This means that the reconstructive process begins at the time of the mastectomy surgery. Utilizing modern breast techniques for mastectomy, including skin sparing mastectomies, we can preserve the architecture of the breast for reconstruction at the time of the mastectomy. This enables the reconstructive surgeon to use varying techniques to begin the reconstructive process at the time of the mastectomy. The goal is to restore breast size and shape.
Options include the use of implants, autologous reconstruction (using your own tissues to recreate the breast mound) or a combination of the two. We can also utilize microsurgery to reconnect tissue to a new blood supply in the breast area to minimize injury to additional tissue areas.
There are a number of factors that may impact which option and technique is the most appropriate for you. We will work with you and your oncologic surgeon to help you make a decision that will give you the best possible outcome and result.
