Why is breast reconstruction important?

Breast reconstruction helps to restore both physical and emotional balance after the surgical treatment of breast cancer. It is important for each woman diagnosed with breast cancer to have a consultation with a reconstructive plastic surgeon early after her diagnosis.

What happens when you have reconstructive breast surgery?

The cancer surgery and reconstruction surgery will leave scars on your breast and any areas where tissue was moved to create the new breast mound, such as the buttocks, tummy, thigh, or back areas. A rebuilt breast will not have the same feeling as the natural breast. Sometimes, it may have little or no feeling at all.

Why is reconstructive surgery important?

Reconstructive plastic surgery is done to correct facial and body abnormalities caused by birth defects, injury, disease, or aging. Usually, the goal of reconstructive plastic surgery is to improve body function.

Is breast reconstruction painful?

The mastectomy and breast reconstruction will leave areas of numbness where the surgery was done. Instead of pain where the tissue was taken, you may feel numbness and tightness. In time, some feeling may return to your breasts.

Can you have a mastectomy if you smoke?

In breast cancer reconstruction, smoking has been established as a risk factor for mastectomy flap skin loss, especially in nipple sparing mastectomy (surgery where the nipple is not removed).

Do reconstructed nipples have feeling?

Even though there are many options and multiple operations involved, Dr. Dauwe does his best to create an attractive and natural appearance. However, it is important to know that a reconstructed nipple may not have the same feel or sensation as the original tissue.

How long does it take for breast reconstruction to heal?

Most women can start to get back to normal activities within 6 to 8 weeks. If implants are used without flaps, your recovery time may be shorter. Some things to keep in mind: Certain types of reconstruction surgery do not restore normal feeling to your breast, but in other types some feeling might return over time.

Can you get fake breasts after a mastectomy?

Breast implants are one of the ways plastic surgeons can create a reconstructed breast after a mastectomy, the term for when all of your natural breast tissue is removed, or in some cases, after a lumpectomy, which removes only the tumor and an area of normal tissue around that.

When is reconstructive surgery used?

Reconstructive surgery is surgery performed to restore normal appearance and function to body parts malformed by a disease or medical condition.

What are reasons for surgery?

What is the purpose of surgery?

• Further explore the condition for the purpose of diagnosis.
• Take a biopsy of a suspicious lump.
• Remove or repair diseased tissues or organs.
• Remove an obstruction.
• Reposition structures to their normal position.
• Redirect blood vessels (bypass surgery)
• Transplant tissue or whole organs.

What are the effects of breast reconstruction?

The effects of breast reconstruction have the capacity to transcend the surgical techniques, providing the final link in the circle of treatment, a return to wholeness, and an overall sense of recovery.” Was this article helpful? Yes / No Was this article helpful?

When does breast reconstruction take place after mastectomy?

Typically, breast reconstruction takes place during or soon after mastectomy, and in some cases, lumpectomy. Breast reconstruction also can be done many months or even years after mastectomy or lumpectomy.

Can breast reconstruction be delayed after radiation therapy?

Radiation therapy can sometimes cause wound healing problems or infections in reconstructed breasts, so some women may prefer to delay reconstruction until after radiation therapy is completed.

Can breast cancer patients have breast reduction surgery?

However, for some of these women the surgeon may use plastic surgery techniques to reshape the breast at the time of cancer surgery. This type of breast-conserving surgery, called oncoplastic surgery, may use local tissue rearrangement, reconstruction through breast reduction surgery, or transfer of tissue flaps.