For women who have undergone or will undergo partial or total breast removal, reconstruction is clearly a secondary consideration after dealing with the aspects of breast cancer.
However, breast reconstruction can be a critical component of healing both physically and psychologically from the devastating effects of breast cancer, and it should be understood that a vast array of reconstructive procedures are available; no woman undergoing removal of the breast should have to sacrifice their physical feminine identity.
At Lou Plastic Surgery, it is Dr. Lou’s mission to help women through their ordeal with breast cancer by guiding them through the decisions for reconstruction with both compassion and understanding and helping re-create that which has been sacrificed.
When considering breast reconstruction, you should understand that it is usually a multi-stage procedure and can take several months to complete the steps towards complete reconstruction. Keep in mind that the goal of reconstruction is to produce the best breast possible, which may not necessarily be identical or similar to your original breast in size, shape, and symmetry. Also, additional surgery on your unaffected breast may be necessary to achieve symmetry of both breasts.
Reconstructive procedures range from oncoplastic procedures such as combined breast reduction-resection, or more traditional approaches such as immediate implant reconstruction, tissue expander/implant reconstruction, various skin/muscle flaps from the abdomen or back (pedicled flaps like the TRAM or latissimus dorsi flaps), and free flap reconstruction (eg. Free TRAM flaps, perforator flaps). Reconstruction is performed in co-ordination with a breast surgeon when appropriate.
As with other aspects of plastic surgery, not all procedures are appropriate or even feasible for all patients. A consultation with Dr. Lou will introduce you to the methods of reconstruction appropriate for you, and allow you to choose a path towards recovering from breast cancer.