Dallas Plastic Surgery

Breast Reconstruction

Women who have lost a breast or two breasts due to cancer and mastectomy sometimes feel uncomfortable with their loss. Clothes drape differently when there is no breast present, and some women feel uncomfortable in intimate situations after they have lost a breast. Society does often equate femininity with the female form – which includes breasts – so losing one or two breasts can be traumatic.

For cancer survivors, there are options after a mastectomy. Some women choose not to replace their breasts, while others wear prosthetics or fillers in their bras. Breast reconstruction, however, is the one way to permanently replace a breast in a natural-looking fashion.

During breast reconstruction, a patient is given general anesthesia. Then, depending on the patient’s needs, a flap reconstruction or a tissue expansion (DIEP or SGAP) will take place. During a flap method breast reconstruction, a patient’s own fat, skin, and muscles are used to create and cover a breast. A surgeon may remove skin and tissue from the stomach or buttock area or may use the tissue available in the breast area.

Sometimes, the flap of skin used can recreate a breast, but usually during breast reconstruction surgery, breast implants will be inserted after the surgeon has enough tissue to recreate the breast mound. The surgeon then stretches the new tissue over the breast implant. Grafting can help create an areola and nipple.

After surgery, many patients will recover over a period of months. If a patients needs to have an expander instead of a breast implant, the patient may need to visit the surgeon for four to six months to have the expander filled. If the expander is only temporary, the patient will also need to return to have the device replaced.

If you are interested in breast reconstruction surgery, you should speak to a surgeon about whether or not you make a good candidate. Your surgeon can help you understand your options and can help you understand which surgery options might be best for you. A surgeon can also help you understand what types of results you might expect from breast reconstruction surgery.

While breast reconstruction surgery is usually used after a mastectomy due to cancer, it is also an option for women who have lost a breast due to an accident, burn injuries, and other situations. After breast reconstruction surgery, your new breast will not have the same sensations as a natural breast. However, it will look natural and will help you achieve a natural and permanent silhouette that is similar to the silhouette you had before your mastectomy or injury.