Breast Reconstruction Procedures: What You Need to Know
For women who have undergone a mastectomy, breast reconstruction surgery can be a life-changing experience. Several different procedures can be used to achieve the desired results, and each has its own set of pros and cons.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the different types of breast reconstruction surgery that are available.
The Main Types of Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Their Pros and Cons
1. Implants:
Breast implants are artificial structures that are used to augment or enhance the size and shape of a woman’s breasts.
While breast implants were originally developed to help women who had undergone mastectomies due to cancer, they soon became popular among women who simply wanted to change the appearance of their breasts.
There are several different types of breast implants available on the market today, including saline-filled and silicone-filled options.
Both types of implants have their pros and cons, with saline implants generally considered safer because they can be easily deflated in cases of rupture or leakage.
Silicone implants, on the other hand, often produce more natural-looking results but have been linked with several health issues.
They look and feel more natural than other types of reconstruction.
- Pros: One of the advantages of implants is that they look and feel more natural than other types of reconstruction.
They can also be inserted immediately after a mastectomy, which means that you won’t have to undergo additional surgeries. - Cons: One of the drawbacks of implants is that they don’t last forever. You might need additional surgeries to replace them every 10 years or so.
Also, because implants are placed under your chest muscle, you might have difficulty breastfeeding if you choose this type of reconstruction.
2. Autologous Tissue Reconstruction:
Autologous tissue reconstruction uses skin, fat, and muscle from another part of your body — usually your back, abdomen, or thighs — to rebuild your breasts.
The most common procedures in this category are the pedicled TRAM flap and the free TRAM flap.
A pedicled TRAM flap: A pedicled TRAM flap involves using skin, fat, and muscle from your lower abdomen to create a new breast mound.
The pedicled TRAM flap procedure preserves some of the underlying blood vessels, which means that there’s a lower risk of complications than with a free TRAM flap procedure.
A free TRAM flap: A free TRAM flap uses skin and fat from your lower abdomen—along with the underlying blood vessels—to create a new breast mound.
This type of autologous tissue reconstruction gives you the most natural-looking results but also poses the greatest risk of complications because the blood vessels are detached from their original location in your body during surgery.
- Pros: One advantage of autologous tissue reconstruction is that it uses your tissue, so there’s no risk of rejection by your body.
This type of reconstruction also provides more feeling in the neck and breast than implants do because nerves are preserved during surgery.
Cons: One downside to autologous tissue reconstruction is that it requires extensive surgery with a long recovery time — usually 4 to 6 weeks or more.
There’s also a greater risk of complications with this type of procedure than with implants.
Additionally, if you have autologous tissue reconstruction using skin from your lower abdomen (TRAM flap), you’ll likely experience a change in sensation in that area as well as scars around both your breasts.
They will also not be identical after this type of reconstruction because each one will be made using tissue from a different part of the body.
Other Types of Breast Reconstruction
1. Grafting: Grafting techniques such as the pedicled TRAM flap or perforator flap can be used to transfer blood vessels along with tissue to the reconstructed area.
This helps to ensure that new tissue will have a good blood supply and will be less likely to die off.
2. Scar revision: After any type of breast reconstruction surgery, there will be some visible scarring. Scar revision surgery can help to improve the appearance of scars and make them less noticeable.
This can be done using a variety of techniques, including dermabrasion, laser treatment, and excision.
3. Nipple-Areola Complex Reconstruction: The nipple-areola complex (NAC) is the area of the breast that includes the nipple and areola.
Nipple-areola complex reconstruction is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that creates a new nipple-areola complex.
This type of surgery is typically performed after the breast mound has been reconstructed.
4. Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction: Direct-to-implant reconstruction is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that involves placing an implant directly under the skin without using a skin flap.
This type of surgery is typically used for patients who have small breasts and do not need a large amount of tissue for coverage.
5. Prepectoral Reconstruction: Prepectoral reconstruction is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that involves placing an implant underneath the chest muscle (pectoralis major).
This type of surgery is typically used for patients who have large breasts and need more support for their implants.
6. Transabdominal Reconstruction: Transabdominal reconstruction is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that uses tissue from the patient’s abdomen to create a new breast mound.
The most common type of transabdominal reconstruction is the pedicled TRAM flap, which uses skin, fat, and muscle from the patient’s abdomen to create the new breast mound.
7. Periareolar Reconstruction: Periareolar reconstruction is a type of breast reconstruction surgery that involves placing an implant around the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple).
This type of surgery is typically used for patients who have small breasts and do not need a large amount of tissue for coverage.
8. Flap Reconstruction: Flap reconstruction is another type of breast reconstruction surgery. It involves using tissue from another part of the body, such as the back, abdomen, or thigh, to create a new breast mound.
9. Breast revision surgery: Breast implant revision is a type of surgery that is performed to improve the appearance of the breasts after previous breast reconstructive surgery.
Breast revision surgery can be performed to correct complications from previous surgeries or to improve aesthetic results.
Conclusion
Breast reconstruction surgery is a complex topic with many different facets to consider. If you are considering this type of surgery, it is important to consult with a qualified surgeon like Dr Ong Wei Chen who can help you choose the right procedure for your individual needs. To learn more about breast reconstruction, check out https://www.wcongplasticsurgery.com.sg/breast-reconstruction-surgery
With so many options available, there is sure to be a breast reconstruction procedure that is perfect for you.
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