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Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction surgery is performed after complete or partial removal of the breast for cancer, or less commonly, for benign (non-cancerous) disease. Women across the country choose to undergo breast reconstruction, including many from Cheyenne, Rapid City, Western Nebraska, and Black Hills who visit our plastic surgery offices.
Reasons for Considering Breast Reconstruction
The most common reasons considered for breast reconstruction include:
- New diagnosis of breast cancer with recommendation of complete mastectomy
- Mastectomy defect from prior surgical treatment of breast cancer
- Significant deformity of breast from lumpectomy (partial removal of breast)
There are many factors that go into making the decision for breast reconstruction, including timing of reconstruction (immediate vs. delayed), your breast size and body type, and whether you will need additional treatment for your cancer (such as radiation or chemotherapy). Dr. Snyder will address all of these issues and help you reach the decision that is right for you during your personal consultation.
General Procedure
Breast reconstruction is performed using the body's own tissue or by using implants, or occasionally a combination of both techniques. When using the body's own tissue, typically skin and fat from the abdominal area is transferred to the breast with one of the "sit-up" muscles for blood supply. This results in a soft, natural appearing breast with a patch of skin where the nipple used to be. Many women like the natural appearance of their breast and improvement in abdominal contour that results from moving the excess skin and fat tissue.
When reconstructing with implants, a partially filled expander or temporary implant is placed in the breast at the initial surgery. Over a period of two to four months, the expander is filled in the office to the desired volume. The expander is then replaced with a silicone or saline breast implant in a second operation, usually done at the surgery center. Many women like the perky appearance of this type of reconstruction, which is similar to breast enlargement for Rapid City, Cheyenne and Western Nebraska residents, especially if both breasts are removed and reconstructed.
Timing
Reconstruction of the breast can be done at the time of breast removal (immediate reconstruction) or after recovery of breast cancer (delayed reconstruction). Reconstructive surgery after breast removal does not replace the function of the breast, such as breast feeding, but for many women, replacement of the breast shape and form helps complete their recovery from cancer.
Many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer want to have immediate reconstruction so that they never have to live with a mastectomy defect. Certain types of immediate reconstruction fill the breast defect fully at the first surgery while other types of reconstruction begin the process at the first operation and complete over a period of several months.
After receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer, some women want to focus on treatment of the cancer itself and aren't initially interested in reconstruction. However, after treatment is completed, breast reconstruction may become more important. Breast reconstruction can be performed anytime after healing from surgery and any additional treatment is complete. It is never too late to consider reconstruction after breast removal.
Recovery for Breast Reconstruction Patients
Depending on the type of reconstruction chosen, the recovery process can vary from a few weeks to as many as 10 weeks. Reconstruction using the body's own tissue typically takes longer to recover from because there is more than one surgical site. Recovery from implant reconstruction is faster, but usually requires multiple operations.
Getting Started
Would you like to learn more about breast reconstruction? Request an appointment online with Dr. Mary Snyder or call her at the office of Monument Plastic Surgery at 308-630-1600.
