Breast reconstruction

Reconstruction of the missing breast is a very delicate subject,with a crucial importance for the patients that need this type of operation. We must say from the beginning that this kind of complicated procedure has its results more in the aesthetic and functional area than the perfection of the original breast. Breast reconstruction can be made using the patient's own tissues, or using implants and even a combination between these two methods.

The reconstruction with an implant is a reconstructive procedure, it can be realized using tissue expander, a temporary implant that is placed under the chest muscles and after that is gradually distended with a physiologic serum for a number of weeks, slowly extending the skin. Once the skin is sufficiently extended, the expander is removed and is replaced with a permanent implant. Autologous tissue reconstruction is a reconstructive method that uses the patient's own tissues from areas that has excessive skin, for creating a new breast. The tissue is moved from a part of the body to another.

What patients can benefit from breast reconstruction?

Not every woman that suffered from mastectomy feels the need to reconstruct their breast, but for most women, the most valuable recompense for accepting the operation that removed a breast because of cancer or any other disease.is the breast reconstruction. Theoretically any woman that lost a breast can have reconstructive surgery. Surgical techniques and new medical devices can create an undistinguished breast with the same shape, volume and consistency as the normal one. An important decision that you must take is if you want an immediate reconstruction (in the same time with the mastectomy) or a late reconstruction with weeks, months or even years ahead from the mastectomy.

Before surgery indications

do not eat and drink anything after midnight before the surgery;
it is forbidden to take aspirin and other drugs that contain aspirin for 2 weeks before the surgery;
with women the surgery must be done as a rule outside the menstruation period;
you must tell the doctor or the anaesthesiologist if you have medical problems (hypertension, vascular problems, heart failure, diabetes, lung problems, bleeding problems, epilepsy, neurological problems, allergies to certain drugs);
you must tell the doctor if you wear dental prosthesis or contact lenses;
if you smoke, plan to stop smoking for 2 weeks before the surgery and do not start smoking until at least 2 weeks have passed from the surgery;
avoid extra exposure to sun before the surgery;
do not keep a strict diet before the surgery because it can delay the healing;
if you catch a cold or you have an infection of any kind, the surgery must be postponed.

Conclusions

After the health evaluation,the surgeon can explain to you what is the most suitable decision to make, choosing from the reconstructive possibilities, taking into consideration the age, health situation, anatomy, tissues, arrears and the waiting. The surgeon must know exactly the result that you are expecting. The Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction will improve your image and your self-confidence, but don't forget that the result that you wish for is a improvement and not perfection itself. Breast reconstruction involves more than one single operation, the first one can be realized in the same time with the mastectomy.