BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

Breast reconstruction encompasses all procedures performed to reconstruct a breast removed due to breast cancer or to address inadequate breast tissue that has developed for other reasons. The methods used for breast reconstruction and the timing of the procedure vary.

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

This refers to all procedures performed to reconstruct a breast removed due to breast cancer or to address inadequate breast tissue resulting from other causes. The methods used for breast reconstruction and the timing of the procedure vary.

The patient's own tissue can be used in these surgeries, while silicone implants are used alone or in conjunction with the patient's tissue. In some cases, special tissue expanders are used to address tissue deficiency in the anterior chest wall.

When these surgeries are performed in conjunction with a mastectomy, patients leave with a new breast upon surgery and are protected from the physical and psychological effects of breast loss. In some patients, breast reconstruction is performed later in the treatment process, depending on the course of treatment.

In procedures using the patient's own tissue, the anterior abdominal wall or back region is utilized. The anterior lower abdominal wall tissue is transported to the breast area along with the muscle tissue that provides blood circulation or along the main vessels that nourish this tissue. Because the patient's own tissue is used, it is possible to create breasts with volume and a natural soft tissue structure.

This method performs a type of abdominoplasty and abdominal contouring in patients with sagging anterior abdominal wall. Breasts can be created using the back muscle and the surrounding soft tissue. For patients with excessive subcutaneous fat in the back and limited breast size, only the back can be used. In some cases, silicone breast implants are used to support the breast area where this tissue is located.

In some silicone implant surgeries, the inadequacy in the breast area is corrected in the first session using tissue expander implants, a procedure that takes several months. In the second session, a permanent silicone implant is placed in place of the tissue expander. In some cases, the implants used to expand the tissue are left in place and the breast is reconstructed in a single session.

Depending on the method used, the patient, and the surgeon's preference, additional interventions may be performed on the opposite breast during the breast reconstruction procedure to ensure symmetry.

The surgeries are performed under general anesthesia and last between two and four hours. Patients who stay in the hospital for one or two nights typically take approximately a week to return to their daily activities. It is recommended to avoid physical activity for up to a month. Post-operative complications such as tissue malnutrition, infection, and asymmetry can occur.