Give a Gift CertificateBreast Reconstruction - Back to Cosmetic Procedures
Breast Reconstruction
reast cancer will strike one out of every nine women. Treatments vary
depending upon tumor size and type, but complete removal of the breast still seems to be
the treatment of choice. This loss of a breast, however, need not be a devastating
experience.
In most women, reconstruction can be accomplished by performing two fairly short procedures. The first involves making an incision in the old scar, creating a pocket under the remaining chest skin, and inserting an empty tissue expander. Over the next couple of weeks, this expander is slowly filled with saline solution, thereby stretching the skin. Then, three to four weeks later, the patient is returned to the operating room where the expander is removed, a permanent implant is inserted, and the nipple is reconstructed.
The patient now has a much more symmtrical feel and appearance to her breasts. Underneath clothing, her reconstructed breast can be indistinguishable from the normal side. Most patients miss only 2-3 days of work. Each operation can be done in under two hours, but needs to be done under general anesthesia in a hospital setting. Patients usually go home the same day.