Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, accounting for 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new cancers in females each year. Advances in breast cancer treatment have greatly improved over the years with early detection and breast conservation surgical techniques, such as breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Baptist Medical Network offers a wide range of reconstructive surgical options to cater to every patient's unique needs combined with experienced and compassionate care.
What Is Breast Reconstruction Surgery?
Women who have had a mastectomy as part of their breast cancer treatment can choose from different types of breast reconstruction surgeries to reform the shape and look of the breast. Mastectomy is a surgical procedure performed to remove an entire breast to treat or prevent breast cancer.
The two main types of breast reconstruction are implant reconstruction and tissue (flap) reconstruction. In some patients, breast reconstruction surgeons combine both procedures to rebuild the breast. Patients undergo reconstructive breast surgery for one or more of the following reasons:
- To make the chest look balanced when wearing a bra or swimsuit
- To help make clothes fit better
- To permanently regain breast shape and eliminate the use of a breast form or an external prosthesis that fits inside the bra
- To regain self-confidence after a lumpectomy or mastectomy
Patients can choose to reconstruct the breasts right after a mastectomy (also called immediate reconstruction) or undergo breast reconstruction surgery months or years after the mastectomy incisions have healed and breast cancer therapy has been completed (also called delayed reconstruction).
Let's help determine if breast reconstruction surgery is right for you. Call us at 210-600-911, and we'll provide you with helpful information and assist you in making an appointment.
Plastic and Reconstructive Institute of Texas
At the Plastic and Reconstructive Institute of Texas, a part of Baptist Medical Network, we understand that the decision to have breast reconstruction is a highly personal choice that requires finding the right breast reconstruction surgeon and making the right decisions based on complete information.
Let us help put your mind at ease with information to help you decide the best treatment for your condition. Our experienced breast reconstruction surgeons and staff have the experience and solutions to explain your options and answer questions to help you get started.
In general, a patient can choose between prosthetic reconstruction (breast reconstruction with implants) or tissue flap reconstruction (breast reconstruction with tissue from another part of the body) to reconstruct one or both breasts.
The duration of these surgeries can take 2 to 3 hours per breast for a mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction or 6 to 12 hours for a mastectomy with tissue flap reconstruction.
Although the goal of breast reconstruction is to empower a patient with renewed self-confidence, keep in mind that the reconstructed breast will not be a perfect match or a substitute for a natural breast. In addition, the areas where tissue was taken for the implants will look different after surgery, such as the abdomen, back, thigh, or buttocks. If you are a candidate for breast reconstruction surgery, ask your surgeon what to expect to help you have realistic expectations and understand the risks that come with any surgery. Talk to your breast reconstructive surgeon about surgical scars and changes in shape or contour, where they will be, and how they will look and feel once they fully heal.
Recovery from breast reconstruction surgery varies from patient to patient and will depend on the type of procedure performed. Most women feel tired and sore after implant surgery for a week or two. Patients who undergo flap procedures usually take longer to feel better afterward. Patients can usually return to normal activities within 6 to 8 weeks, even shorter if the implants are used without flaps.
As you prepare for an appointment with a breast reconstruction surgeon, here's some information to help you know what to expect and ask your health care team:
- Some types of breast reconstruction surgeries do not restore normal sensation to your breast. For other types, some sensations may return, but may take some time.
- Bruising and swelling usually disappear after about eight weeks.
- The scars never disappear completely, but usually fade and heal after 1 to 2 years.
- The type of bra needed will depend on the type of surgery you had.
- Always consult with your surgeon for specific guidance on when to begin stretching exercises and everyday activities. Avoid overhead lifting, strenuous sports, and some sexual activities for 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.
- Talk to your surgeon about long-term follow-up. Regular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ensures that silicone gel implants are leak-free and in good condition. Contact your insurance provider if the procedure is part of your coverage.
- It takes time to get used to the loss of a breast, in the same way as accepting the reconstructed breast as your own. Don't be afraid to seek help from a mental health professional or talk to other women who have had breast reconstruction surgery to help you deal with anxiety and depression.
- Call your doctor right away if you notice any symptoms that concern you, such as new skin changes, swelling, lumps, pain, or fluid leaking from the breast, armpit, or flap donor site.