Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Breast reconstruction surgery restores the appearance of the breast following surgery for breast cancer.

WHAT IS IT?

• A breast reconstruction is an operation to restore the shape of the breast following:
  • A mastectomy
  • A partial mastectomy or removal of a portion of your breast
• There are two ways of performing breast reconstruction:
  
  • Reconstruction with a breast implant
  • Reconstruction with your own tissue

Implant Reconstruction - WHAT IS INVOLVED?

• If you choose an implant reconstruction, your surgeon will insert a pre-formed silicone or saline solution breast implant that matches your desired dimensions under the skin where your breast used to be.
• If your skin has been pulled tight following your mastectomy, it may be necessary to use a skin expander, often called a balloon expander, to stretch the skin enough to accommodate the implant.
• The expander is then filled with salt water solution over a period of time to assist in expanding the skin over your breasts gradually.
• Once the required size is achieved, your surgeon will reconstruct your areola (the dark area surrounding the nipple) and the procedure is complete.
• If breast reconstruction surgery is carried out at the same time as your mastectomy, the entire process is likely to take around 2 to 3 hours.
• You will require a general anaesthetic and you will need to stay in hospital overnight.

Tissue reconstruction - WHAT IS INVOLVED?

• If you prefer not to have any foreign material in your body, your surgeon will take some tissue from either your back or stomach to recreate your new breast.
• The most common areas used for flap reconstruction are your back (A Latissumus Dorsi Flap) and the lower part of your tummy (A TRAM or a DIEP flap).
• The advantages of using your own tissue to reconstruct your breast include:
  • The tissue is natural
  • You will not risk the possibility of the complications that can occur after implant breast reconstruction
• If you have a TRAM or DIEP FLAP you will lose the same tissue that is normally removed in a tummy tuck.
• The disadvantages of using your own tissue to reconstruct your breast tissue include:
  • The tissue is natural
  • You will not risk the possibility of the complications that can occur after implant breast reconstruction

• The disadvantages of using your own tissue to reconstruct your breast tissue include:
  • The operation takes longer and you will need more time to recover
  • The operation is more demanding for the surgeon and you will need to be treated by a specialist in this field

YOUR RECOVERY

• Your recovery will depend upon which procedure you decided to have:
  • If you have a tissue reconstruction you will probably need to spend 4-5 days in hospital following your operation
  • You should expect to recover fully from an implant reconstruction within 4-6 weeks

THINGS TO BE AWARE OF

• Not everyone who has surgery for breast cancer opts to undergo a breast reconstruction.
• It is important to research the different types of breast reconstruction available before deciding on which one would be best for you.
• It is important to remember that whilst every effort is made to make your breast as life-like as possible, it will not be a perfect replica of the breast that was removed.

YOUR RESULTS

• Breast reconstruction is permanent, although you must expect some change in appearance to develop over time.