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Breast reconstruction is an elaborate procedure taking a long time and consists of multiple operations before the final result. The surgeries may be done over a period of a few weeks or even months. The first part consists of making sure that the patient is in good health, that she does not have medical problems like high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity, that she is a non smoker and that she is physically and mentally prepared for it. She should be told the surgical procedure and what to expect from it.
There are many methods of breast reconstruction. Generally a breast reconstruction surgery consists of inserting a temporary expander beneath the skin at the site of the removed breast and slowly injecting saline or silica gel in it over a period of a few weeks till the planned level is reached. Normally fifty cc’s of the liquid are injected every week. The size and the shape of the tissue expander have to be carefully decided before the surgery begins. The expander then makes the skin expand in very much the same way as a growing fetus makes the uterus expand. Sometimes, the expander may be used on some other site of the person’s own body where the skin is grown and then grafted to the breast site.
The expander has a node, which is made of plastic, or metal through which the liquid is introduced. When the planned size is reached, it is replaced by a suitable implant. The risks and the complications from the expander and the implant are similar to the ones in breast augmentation cases. The areola and the nipples are then reconstructed to give the breast a natural look. Another method is the flap method where tissues from other parts of the body, like the back, the buttocks, the abdomen or the thighs are used for breast reconstruction. As the donor tissues are from the patient herself, the body will not reject them. The only thing is that there will be two scars on the body-one at the donor area and the other at the reconstruction place. It is a more complicated operation hence the first one is generally preferred.
The introduction of the expander or the breast implant may cause discomfort or pain but it is less as compared with other surgical pain and can be easily controlled. The patient has to realize that even after a successful operation the breast will not be like the original one in appearance, size or feeling. The implant may have to be replaced after a few years or if it causes pain or discharge or if it ruptures, shifts or has infection. |
