Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is surgery to reshape the breasts after mastectomy or lumpectomy. Sometimes reconstruction requires some intervention. There are several breast reconstruction techniques. In some techniques, silicone implants are used. Other techniques use tissue from your own body (such as tissue from the lower abdomen).

Breast reconstruction can occur immediately after breast cancer surgery which is known as immediate reconstruction. Or it can happen months or years later, in which case we are dealing with a deferred reconstruction. You can reconstruct both breasts with one operation.

There are two main types of breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy. In flap reconstruction, the surgeon takes tissue from your body and uses it to form a breast. Usually, tissue is taken from the lower abdomen, but it can also be taken from the thighs. The surgeon can remove fat, skin, blood vessels and muscle from these parts of your body to form a new breast. In implant reconstruction, surgeons use saline or silicone implants to recreate breast tissue. Sometimes surgeons use a combination of implants and tissue from your own body. Implant reconstruction can occur along with a mastectomy.

If by lumpectomy, you can benefit from oncoplastic reconstruction. In oncoplastic reconstruction, surgeons use breast reduction or breast lift techniques at the same time as lumpectomy. Breast reduction or breast lift helps fill the defect created by the lumpectomy and improves the shape of the breast.