Breast Reconstruction Procedure

Breast reconstruction is performed on mastectomy patients, allowing women who have lost breasts to cancer to preserve their natural profile and aid in their psychological healing. Breast reconstruction surgery is an effective way to rebuild the breast. After the doctor assesses a patient’s situation, he or she explains surgical options appropriate for the patient’s age, health, and goals regarding appearance. Most cases of reconstruction will require more than one operation, but the process can begin right after the mastectomy has been performed. This can spare the patient some trauma associated with loss of the breast.

Depending on the surgeon's evaluation of the many factors affecting a patient's case, the physician can use a variety of techniques to reconstruct the breast. The most common technique combines gradual expansion of chest tissue (commonly called the tissue expansion technique) with the use of breast implants. With skin expansion, a balloon expander is inserted beneath the skin and is inflated with injections of salt-water solution over a period of weeks. After the breast area is sufficiently stretched, the expander is removed and replaced with a permanent implant. The nipple is then reconstructed in a subsequent procedure.

An alternative to skin expansion is the flap reconstruction technique. This involves the creation of a skin flap using tissue taken from another part of the body such as the abdomen or back. The flap is attached to the chest area to create a pocket for an implant or used to build up an actual breast mound. Flap surgery allows for single-stage breast reconstruction, which may allow some women to wake from their mastectomy surgeries with a fully reconstructed breast, rather than having to undergo several stages of reconstructive surgery.