Breast Reconstruction
The Center for Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery
Breast reconstruction surgery is really a name for a series of procedures that allow a surgeon to cosmetically recreate breasts in women who have lost a breast to mastectomy, disease, or injury.
The breast reconstruction process can take many different forms, depending on how completely the patient wants to rebuild the breast and how much surgery she is willing to undergo to do so.
The procedure
The breast reconstruction process consists of steps to replace sufficient skin to cover the breast mound, construction of the mound, and finally, procedures such as nipple reconstruction and adaptive surgery to the natural breast, to create a symmetrical appearance.
Skin replacement
There are two options available for the skin replacement step: Skin expansion and flap reconstruction.
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Skin expansion.
This is a procedure in which the cosmetic surgeon creates sufficient skin to accommodate the new breast mound. This is done by implanting an 'expander' in the chest area. This expander implant is filled incrementally, allowing the skin to regrow to accommodate it.
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Flap reconstruction.
Flap reconstruction is an alternative skin replacement procedure to skin expansion. This involves repositioning skin from a donor area elsewhere on the patient's body, usually the buttocks, abdomen, or back.
Implantation
The implantation step is identical to breast augmentation procedures. During this step, the surgeon inserts a breast implant under the newly formed skin of the reconstructed breast.
Nipple reconstruction
The nipple reconstruction process involves recreating a nipple for the newly created breast mound. This is usually done by shaping a flap of skin from the breast into a nipple form, then tattooing the nipple and areola area a darker color to complete the effect.
Additional procedures to the existing breast
Following a breast reconstruction, the newly constructed breast may be a slightly different shape or size than the existing breast. In such cases, many women choose to have additional procedures to their natural breast to increase the symmetry between the breasts. These procedures may include breast augmentation, breast reduction, and/or a breast lift.
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