Breast Reconstruction

After mastectomy, breast implants can be placed to recreate the breast shape. In most cases, the implant is placed under the skin or pectoral (chest) muscle in a two-part procedure. First, your plastic surgeon will use a device called a tissue expander to make room for the implant. The tissue expander is gradually filled with saline solution during several office visits. Once the chest tissue has been enlarged enough, it will be allowed to heal, and then the expander will be removed and replaced with an implant.

Your surgeon will select the most appropriate implant based on your preferences and medical details. Implant choices may include:

• Saline implants. Saline breast implants are soft silicone shells filled with sterile saline solution (salt water). Saline implants are easier to monitor in the years after the procedure because it can be detected more easily if the implant ruptures.
• Silicone implants. Silicone breast implants consist of a silicone shell filled with silicone gel. These feel the most similar to natural breast tissue.

In some cases, such as when a woman has had radiation therapy to the breast, placement of the implant may be combined with transfer of tissue from the back. Implant-based breast reconstruction may be performed at the same time as a mastectomy or after mastectomy and any other necessary treatments have been completed.

Temple plastic surgeons specialize in microsurgical breast reconstruction, an advanced way of reconstructing your breasts using your own tissue.

In microsurgical breast reconstruction, skin, fat, and sometimes muscle are detached from the original blood vessels and placed at the reconstruction site. Then, the delicate blood vessels are meticulously reattached under a microscope to restore blood circulation in the tissue’s new position.

Microsurgical breast reconstruction has several benefits. Results tend to look very natural over time, because your own tissue has the most natural texture. In some cases, removal of the tissue that is moved to the breasts gives you a tummy-tuck, thigh lift, or butt lift at the same time.

To reconstruct the breasts, tissue may be removed from your abdomen (DIEP, SIEA or TRAM flap), buttocks or hips (IGAP or SGAP flap), thighs (PAP or TUG flap), or combinations of these and other areas. To determine the best location(s) for tissue removal, your surgeon will consider your body shape, your desired breast size and any previous surgeries.

Like implant-based breast reconstruction, microsurgical breast reconstruction may be performed at the same time as a mastectomy or after mastectomy and any other necessary treatments have been completed.

If small areas of depressions occur after lumpectomy or reconstruction, living fat cells can be taken from your abdomen, hips, or thighs and transferred to the breasts to restore fullness and symmetry. This procedure usually has less down time and can achieve long-lasting results.