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Breast reconstruction follows a mastectomy, sometimes immediately and sometimes after recovery. Reconstruction is done in many methods. Recovery from the implant reconstruction surgery is generally faster than other methods. Within three to six weeks, the patient can recover from the final surgery though the entire process may take six months or more, as it is a gradual and slow process. Flap based reconstructions also take three to six weeks for recovery. The patient may feel sore and tired for some time after the surgery. There may be swelling or soreness in the area of surgery. The surgeon will prescribe medicines for combating this. Drainage tubes may be placed in the area of the wound and excess fluid will be drained away. Stitches to close the wound will be removed after three or five days. If they are the absorbable kind there is no problem. The body will absorb them. Scarring is permanent but it will fade over the years and become indistinguishable.
All patients of all types of breast reconstruction have to take life easy for some time. They should not lift heavy things, should refrain from heavy activities, including sports and sexual activities. TRAM patients have abdominal problems so they should take care after the surgery as they have two wound areas to heal properly. The doctor will give a list of dos and don’ts which have to be followed properly. Simple walking is allowed after recovery as it is an excellent method of exercise and weight control. Patients of reconstruction must still undergo regular checkups for local or regional occurrence of their cancer with manual examinations of the breast and the chest regularly. Some patients take a long time to heal and some say that it took them a couple of years to get back to normal.
If breast reconstruction has been done on only one breast, then the patient has to have screen mammography done regularly for the other breast as well. Mammography is not usually needed on the reconstructed breast but self-examination on both the breasts and the skin and the surrounding area of the breasts should be done regularly. Even after careful reconstruction, the reconstructed breast can never be the same as before. There will be physical differences, and there may be loss of sensation that was there before the mastectomy. However breast reconstruction will help the patient gain self confidence and self esteem and improve the body image and make her forget the trauma of mastectomy. |
