Breast Reconstruction Awareness

October 18 marks Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day. Every two minutes, a woman in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, many are not aware of their breast reconstruction options after a mastectomy. Recent studies have shown that only 23 percent of women are aware of the wide range of breast reconstruction options available to them.
Women have many options for reconstruction after breast cancer. Some choose to forego reconstruction and instead choose to use a breast prosthesis. Local retailers will aid in the process by customizing clothing and adding padding and prostheses for patients.
Many women instead choose to undergo breast reconstruction with either their own tissues or with breast implants. When a patient uses her own tissues, known as autologous reconstruction, the lower abdomen is chosen as it is a reliable option for reconstruction with well-hidden scars. The back or thighs are other popular choices for donor tissue in breast reconstruction. The surgery involves taking skin, fat and muscle with a blood supply and transferring it to the chest to reconstruct the breast. Advances in technique have minimized the complications of using the lower abdominal muscles, such as the DIEP flap.
Breast implant reconstruction traditionally required three stages of reconstruction. In the first stage, a tissue expander is placed to expand the local tissues to take on the form and shape of a breast. Oftentimes, this is placed at the time of mastectomy. After the tissues have sufficiently stretched, the tissue expander is removed and a silicone or saline breast implant is placed. Later, nipple reconstruction can be performed as a third stage in those situations where the nipple has been removed.
Advances in implants and techniques have eliminated surgeries and improved the experience for patients. A single stage straight to implant breast reconstruction is now being performed, eliminating the need for tissue expanders and office visits for expansion. Nipple sparing mastectomy, in select patients, also has eliminated an additional surgery while providing for better aesthetic results with similar oncologic safety as the traditional mastectomy.
Autologous reconstruction has also advanced, with shorter hospital stays and less painful recovery. Long acting nerve blocks and enhanced recovery protocols are improving the experience for patients who choose this route.
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 requires health plans that offer breast cancer treatment to also provide for breast reconstruction and prostheses. Patients will sometimes require revision surgeries years after their initial cancer diagnosis, such as for implant rupture or to improve symmetry.
Call us today at 661-253-2211 to discuss your options. Dr. Tran is a double board certified plastic surgeon trained at the Mayo Clinic. Visit us at www.paultranmd.com.