The Things You Should Know About Breast Reconstruction

Published:May 23rd, 2011

What is Breast Reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction surgery is a type of operation offered to women who underwent breast removal or mastectomy due to breast cancer. This type of procedure aims to rebuild the breast so as to regain the size and the shape of the previous breast. Nipples may be added to achieve the breast’s natural look.

Do patients who had lumpectomy need breast reconstruction?

As mentioned by the American Cancer Society, patients who had lumpectomy or removal of a part of the breast need not undergo breast reconstruction.

What are the improvements in the breast cancer management?

More than 254,000 American women develop breast cancer each year. However, unlike the breast cancer management in the past, the new forms of breast cancer treatment aim not only to remove the cancer cells but also to improve the appearance of the breast after the removal of cancer tissues.

What are the usual reasons for breast reconstruction?

• To make the breasts look symmetrical when wearing a bra
• To regain previous breast shape
• To eliminate the need for external prosthesis
• To improve self-esteem and body image

Reconstructed breast may appear different when naked, however, under your clothes, the symmetry in the size and shape of your breasts is all that matters.

Immediate or delayed breast reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction may be carried out right after mastectomy (immediate breast reconstruction) or it may be performed later after the breast tissue removal (delayed breast reconstruction.

What are the benefits with immediate breast reconstruction?

• The breast tissue does not become involved in the damaged with radiation therapy and scarring
• The final outcome of your breast will look much better.
• There will be less surgical procedure involved.

Who needs delayed breast reconstruction?

Patients who require radiation therapy need to postpone their breast reconstruction procedure because radiation therapy can cause problems with the breast reconstruction outcome.

What are the things you need to consider when deciding for a breast reconstruction procedure?

• Your overall health status
• Your breast cancer stage
• The size of your natural breats
• The amount of skin tissue available for flap grafts
• Your desire to make my breasts balanced again
• Do I need to take more the surgical procedures after my mastectomy?
• Am I willing to face the possible complications of breast reconstruction?

What are the possible complications associated with breast reconstruction?

• Change in the consistency and shape of the operated breast
• Bleeding on the surgical site
• Scarring on the surgical site
• Delayed healing may happen with chemotherapy and radiation, smoking, use of alcohol, increased blood sugar and diabetes and some medications
• Decreased sensation of the involved skin on the reconstructed breast (this usually goes away with time)

Whats are the usual contraindications for this procedure?

• Your surgeon might advice you to stop smoking at least two months before undergoing breast reconstruction.
• You might need to achieve a normal weight before having this operation. If you happen to be obese or too thin, your surgeon might withhold this operation.
• If you have blood circulation problems, your surgeon might advise against this procedure.

What are the possible outcomes with breast reconstruction?

• Your reconstructed breast may not feel the same after the surgical procedure.
• Your breast sensation may have decreased skin sensation.
• What will my surgeon do to make my breasts look symmetrical again?
• Your surgeon might perform breast augmentation, breast lift and sometimes breast reduction to both of your breasts to make them symmetrical and well balanced again.

Reference:

Cancer.org: Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

 

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