With the enhanced techniques in early detection of breast cancer throughout the United States, many women who are newly facing a breast cancer diagnosis find that they are candidates for lumpectomy and radiation instead of mastectomy. Nevertheless, some women still find that the optimal treatment for their breast cancer may require mastectomy, as determined by their oncologist and surgeon. For those women, breast reconstruction surgery may be an option both in the immediate setting at the time of mastectomy, or subsequently several months later. Breast reconstruction can improve the quality of life of many women by restoring balance and symmetry, allowing a woman to shed her need for an external prosthesis, and heightening both self-esteem and confidence by recovering a sense of completeness and normalcy.
When performed by a qualified breast surgeon with decades of experience, breast reconstruction can offer benefits such as:
Personal circumstances and individual preferences play major roles in deciding if and when breast reconstruction is the right choice, as well as the surgical methods that can be employed during the procedure. During a thorough consultation, our experienced plastic surgeons will review your medical history and assess your unique needs for breast reconstruction. We will ask you about your concerns and preferences and recommend the most ideal options for reconstruction based on your health, body type, lifestyle, and surgical goals. Moreover, we would be glad to communicate with oncologists or other members of your healthcare team at any point.
Breast reconstruction surgery can be performed in a single stage or in at least two stages, which can span across a period of several months. There are two categories of reconstruction: implant-based reconstruction and reconstruction using the patient’s own tissue (autologous). There are many factors and variables to consider in deciding whether to use one’s own tissue to reconstruct breasts or to utilize breast implants.
A tissue flap procedure uses a woman’s own tissue to reconstruct one or both breasts. Also referred to as autologous breast reconstruction, this option utilizes tissue from other parts of the body, such as the abdomen, back, thighs, or buttocks, to build the new breast mound. While a reconstructed breast will never exactly mimic a natural breast in appearance or feel, tissue flap reconstruction can allow for a more natural-looking breast reconstruction than other reconstruction options.
Additionally, the resulting breast from a flap procedure can more closely resemble a natural breast in behavior, as breasts formed by a woman’s own tissue typically shrink or grow proportional to an individual’s weight fluctuation. Because the flaps used in autologous breast reconstruction require healthy blood vessels for the tissue’s blood supply, some patients may not be optimal candidates for a tissue flap procedure. Factors taken into consideration include tobacco use, a history of uncontrolled diabetes, poor blood circulation (vascular disease), or connective tissue diseases.
Depending on the location of the donor site, tissue flap techniques employed may include:
For some women, an implant may be a more beneficial option to recreate the new breast. Depending on each patient’s unique needs, implant-based reconstruction can often be performed at the same time as cancer removal surgery (mastectomy). A tissue expander may be required if the patient is interested in a larger final breast size. Fat grafting may be used to thicken the layer of coverage over the breast implant(s) in the event that a woman’s skin tissue is too thin.
Today there are more breast implant options than ever before. Implants can be textured or smooth, round or anatomic, or saline-filled or silicone gel-filled. They are available in all sizes, shapes, and degrees of projection to accommodate each woman’s unique anatomy, needs, and desires for enhancement. Anatomic or shaped implants have a textured surface to help achieve better stability within the breast to avoid unwanted shifting or movement. A smooth round implant is the most popular choice for many women because it typically moves slightly with a woman’s breast and more accurately resembles the natural breast.
Patients may have a choice between starting the breast reconstruction process immediately after cancer treatment surgery or delaying the procedure to a later time. This decision is typically made according to an individual’s preference, the nature of their cancer, and their overall physical and emotional health. In the vast majority of cases, barring extenuating circumstances, immediate breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy—or oncoplastic reconstruction at the time of lumpectomy—is offered to the patient. This strategy is known as “immediate reconstruction,” whereas procedures done after the mastectomy are referred to as “delayed reconstructions.”*
Alongside creating an ideal timeline for the surgery, breast reconstruction requires careful consideration of a number of additional factors. While the procedural outcome can be extremely rewarding for women who have lost one or both breasts to mastectomy—or have a deformed breast appearance from lumpectomy, injury, or a previous surgery—breast reconstruction is an extremely personal decision. Considerations to take into account include:
It is important to remember that a reconstructed breast will not necessarily look or feel the same as a natural breast. The goal of breast reconstruction is to diminish the physical and emotional impact of mastectomy or lumpectomy by recreating as close to a normal breast size, shape, symmetry, and overall appearance as possible. During a thorough consultation, your plastic surgeon will review your medical history and assess your unique needs for breast reconstruction. We will ask you about your concerns and preferences and recommend the most ideal options for reconstruction based on your health, body type, lifestyle, and surgical goals.
For some breast cancer patients, radiation therapy is necessary after mastectomy or lumpectomy surgery to further treat and eradicate cancerous cells—particularly when a cancer is larger than five centimeters, or has spread to the lymph nodes. Because radiation is a targeted treatment that affects healthy tissue as well as microscopic cancerous tumors, the need for radiotherapy is a factor that can impact the timing, as well as the method, of a patient’s breast reconstruction.
When radiation therapy is a part of an individual’s cancer treatment plan, autologous reconstruction using a patient’s natural tissue, as opposed to exclusively implant-based techniques, is generally the preferred method of rebuilding the breast(s). This is due to a higher rate of potential complications observed in implant-based reconstruction both before and after radiation, including changes in the breast size, shape, and skin color; capsular contracture; wound breakdown; compromised healing; and infection.
Furthermore, your surgeon can typically perform immediate single stage implant-based breast reconstruction even if radiation may be required following surgery. If they encounter a patient whom the overall oncologic treatment plan is less certain early on, they may advise waiting until radiation is complete before starting the breast reconstruction process. While every case is unique, undergoing tissue flap reconstruction after radiation therapy can yield a better and more predictable long-term result than a purely implant-based reconstruction. Autologous techniques can introduce new, healthy tissue into the radiated area, and avoid exposing the transferred flaps to radiation that may adversely affect it.
According to the details of your treatment plan, your breast reconstruction will primarily utilize either tissue flap or implant-based reconstruction techniques, with secondary approaches like fat grafting employed when necessary. Our team will inform you of every step of your reconstruction prior to surgery. If both methods are being used to rebuild the breast(s), a tissue flap procedure is usually performed before implant placement. In the event that only one breast is being reconstructed, other surgeries like a breast lift or breast reduction may help achieve symmetry between the reconstructed breast and the natural breast, depending on your aesthetic goals and whether additional procedures will be necessary to achieve them. Reconstruction of the nipple and areola is generally completed after formation of the recreated breast(s).
Just as the breast reconstruction procedure itself will be tailored to your individual situation and preferences, so will the healing process that follows. The recovery process will depend on the technique(s) employed (i.e., the surgical strategy used and/or whether or not an implant was placed) and various other specifics of your case.
With this in mind, patients who have undergone an implant-based reconstruction will typically experience soreness for about two weeks. Tissue flap patients are likely to feel sore and tired for at least a few weeks longer. In most cases, patients are able to return home from the hospital within a few days, and everyday activities can usually be resumed within six to eight weeks. Swelling and bruising are normal within the first two months; meanwhile, although side effects such as infection, fatigue, abnormal bleeding, or loss of nipple sensation are possible, these more serious complications are considerably rare.*
After having had a mastectomy in 1996 and an abdominal tram flap reconstructive procedure in 1998, I was left with a larger constructed breast which drooped over the years making me unbalanced. This affected my back as well as I was left without two vertical core muscles used for the flap blood supply which helped support my back. Over the years two highly recommended plastic surgeons attempted to lift and balance my breasts; however the heavier constructed breast would gradually begin to droop lower than the other. I wanted them both removed as I was so uncomfortable. Thankfully in 2018 I met Dr. Craig Rowin who successfully decreased their sizes and lifted my breasts evenly on my chest in lieu of having them removed. He makes you feel at ease as he is a very compassionate, professionally confident, and friendly doctor. He is easy to talk with and explains in detail what he feels he can do to help you. I highly recommend Dr. Craig Rowin, and his partner, Dr. Ram Kalus, who also consulted with me to discuss my options. The staff at Plastic Surgery of the Carolinas are warm and helpful making the entire process for the patient a very positive and relaxed experience.
Breast reconstruction can be confusing with all of the options available today. With that said, careful selection of a plastic surgeon who is not only well-versed performing every type of surgery, but also compassionate with regard to the personal nature of the procedure, can make the process smoother, safer, and more effective. Although researching all of the aspects of treatment may seem daunting, the following tips can help you choose an experienced breast reconstruction surgeon for your unique needs:
After you have narrowed down your options to a qualified breast surgeon who meets your criteria, the next step is scheduling a consultation. This will give you an opportunity to ask him or her any questions you may have about their training, or the breast reconstruction process itself. Please reach out to our practice if you have any other questions about choosing a breast reconstruction surgeon or if you would like to schedule a consultation.
American Cancer Society
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
American Breast Cancer Guide
Charleston Post and Courier
The New York Times
Our Mt. Pleasant plastic surgery practice is looking for an experienced CMA to join our team in a full time position. If you are a self starter who take initiative and enjoys working with patients, we’d love to hear from you.
Please send your resume to jacque@plasticsurgerycarolina.com
