Few years ago, women who had breast cancer and undergone mastectomy had no option of having their breasts restored. This in turn causes low self esteem for those patients thinking that they will never become whole again.

But with the advance technology we have now cases for cancer patients are far more different. Every woman has the right to have breast reconstruction after breast cancer. After their battle, they deserve to still feel pretty and comfortable no matter what they have been through.  Now this is where breast reconstruction surgery comes in. There is no age limitation for this procedure and with all the medical skills we have right now, different options are available for every survivor.

After mastectomy, immediate breast reconstruction can be performed at the same time. This method includes various advantages such as the preservation of the patients breast skin, shorter or less obvious mastectomy scar and waking up with a new breast already in place which can avoid the experience of a flat chest. In addition, it also provides the best results especially when done together with nipple-sparing or skin-sparing mastectomy.

Patients could also have delayed reconstruction surgery since doctors usually require their patients to undergo radiation following their mastectomies. It is common to wait several months after the last radiation therapy before going through the breast reconstruction surgery to allow the soft tissues to recover completely.

Tissue expander reconstruction, on the other hand is the most common method of breast reconstruction.  Most cosmetic surgeons do this as a two-stage procedure. They will use expander to stretch the skin envelope to create the size the patient and plastic surgeon desire. The expander will then be replace with a breast implant usually in the form of saline or silicone. Some patients however, can also become candidates for the one-step implant reconstruction without the use of expanders. In such operation, a breast implant will be inserted immediately without going through the expansion process.

The best option for some patients could be the implant reconstruction. The downside however, reconstruction with expanders and implants are associated with more complications than cosmetic breast augmentation. Complications following radiation therapy are also higher with implants compare to that using the patient’s own tissue.

Implant reconstruction can be the best option for some patients. However, reconstruction with expanders and breast implants are associated with more complications than cosmetic breast augmentation. Complications following radiation therapy are also higher with implants compared to reconstructions using the patient’s own tissue.

For women, breast matters and how they look after their battles matter. As such, women who have decided to have their breast reconstructed after mastectomy should not feel bad but rather feel that it is necessary and that they deserve it. All cancer survivors deserve to feel great and beautiful after breast cancer.

Tags: breast augmentation, breast reconstruction surgery

Categories: Uncategorized

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