Hope and healing through breast reconstruction

Oncoplastic reconstruction is a procedure in which surgeons remove the breast cancer tumor and perform breast reconstruction using the patient’s natural breast tissue.

Oncoplastic surgery begins with a partial mastectomy—surgery to remove the cancerous tissues from the breast without removing all of the breast tissue. After the cancer tissues are removed, the surgeon will rearrange the remaining breast tissue, retaining a natural shape and contour.

• Just one surgery for both the cancer removal and breast reconstruction.
• We can perform the procedure in such a way that scars are nearly unnoticeable and, for many women, leave the nipple and surrounding tissue intact for a more natural look.
• By using your own breast tissue, we can help you retain a cosmetically pleasing breast shape without using implants.
• You can go home the same day, with nothing more than a supportive bra.
• Enhanced self-confidence and sensuality after surgery.

Not everyone is a candidate for a partial mastectomy. Some may need to undergo a mastectomy or complete removal of the breast. For those individuals, we also have reconstruction options where we recreate a breast in a cosmetically favorable way.

If you need a complete mastectomy, we can use tissues from other parts of your body to reconstruct your breast. LIFT reconstruction uses muscles from your back to recreate your breast. First, your back muscles and skin will be injected with fat tissues from your body, obtained by liposuction. Then the surgeon will extract tissues from your back and use them to reconstruct the breast.

• By using a skin- and nipple-sparing mastectomy technique, the nipple and surrounding area of the reconstructed breast remain intact.
• Because we’re able to use your fat and body tissues to recreate the breast, the reconstructed breast will feel very much like the original.
• Injecting fat tissues helps to increase your breast volume and shape.
• Most women go home the same day of surgery with minimal pain.

After a mastectomy you may also consider breast reconstruction using implants. Implants are typically made of a flexible silicone outer shell which is filled with saline or silicone gel. This reconstruction procedure can be performed at the same time as the cancer surgery or can be completed later.

Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction is performed at the same time as the mastectomy. The breast implant is inserted after your surgeon removes the breast tissue.

• Reduces the number of surgeries you have to undergo.
• You do not have to go without the shape of the breast.
• The breast skin is often preserved.

Breast reconstruction with tissue expanders involves placing a temporary expander device to help prepare your breast skin and muscles for the implant. The balloon-like expanders stay in place for two to three months after surgery. After the skin and muscle are adequately stretched, your surgeon will replace the tissue expander with a permanent implant.

• You have the flexibility to choose your desired breast size.
• Recovery periods tend to be shorter with more satisfying results.

The choice is entirely up to you. Some patients who elect not to receive breast reconstruction choose to wear a breast prosthesis. These devices are worn under clothing for appearance and to help clothing fit better. A prosthesis can be used starting six weeks after your cancer surgery when all wounds have healed.

Your reconstruction may be either immediate or delayed. Immediate reconstruction can be performed right after the breast cancer or breast tissue is removed, during the same operation. This helps reduce the number of trips to the operating room and many patients experience less psychological trauma as they wake up with reconstructed breasts and do not see themselves without breasts. However, it increases overall surgical time and hospital stay as opposed to electing no reconstruction or delayed reconstruction.

Studies show implant reconstruction require more surgeries compared to reconstructions using your own tissue. Replacement of the implant will be necessary at some point—the FDA reports the lifespan of implants is 10 years. If tissue expanders are inserted at the time of mastectomy, a second surgery is required to remove the expanders and replace them with permanent implants.

With reconstruction based on your own tissue (flaps), no further surgery is usually necessary. Some patients, although not all, may require additional surgery for symmetry or contour defects.

Please ask your surgeon to clarify your situation.