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Women
of all ages who have had all or part of a breast removed are finding that
breast reconstruc-
tion can be a step toward restoring their bodies and their lifestyles.
Reconstruction can help the
mastectomy patient feel and look better in clothes, help her regain a
positive selfimage and
contribute to a better mental attitude.
Surprisingly,
many women are still unaware that a breast can be reconstructed after
surgery.
Almost any woman who has had a mastectomy can have her breast reconstructed.
But reconstruc-
tion isn't for everyone. Some women prefer to wear breast forms (prostheses)
rather than having
additional surgery. The important thing is that you have a choice.
The
decision to undergo breast reconstruction and the timing of the procedure(s)should
be made by
you and your doctors. Prior to initial treatment, you may wish to consult
with the various medical
professionals who form your support team including your oncologist, general
surgeon and plastic
surgeon, so that they can plan a coordinated approach to surgical treatment
and reconstruction. The
better informed you are about your options, he greater chance you have
of regaining physical and
emotional stability.
Timing
of breast reconstruction is very important. With many patients it can
be started at the time of
the mastectomy. Other women choose to wait for a short time after mastectomy
in order to better
cope with the new problems they face. During this time, the benefits of
reconstruction can be
carefully considered.
Complications
are relatively infrequent but potential difficulties should be discussed
at the time of
consultation with your plastic surgeon. You need to fully understand what
will be done.
The
breast implant (prosthesis) is an important part of many reconstructive
procedures. There are
several types, each with its own benefit depending on the type of reconstruction
needed, including:
1) silicone gel; 2) implants inflated with saline solution; 3) a biphasic
implant, which is a combina-
tion of the first two; 4) silastic textured implants; and 5) tissue expanders.
The implants are
generally well-tolerated by the body. Careful consideration is given to
the size of the implant, which
should correspond to your body size and configuration, the size of the
remaining breast, your
personal goal,and the factors and limitations of the mastectomy site.
The use and present status of
breast implants will be discussed at the time of your consultation.
More
extensive procedures involving the transfer of additional tissue and muscle
from the back or
abdominal areas may be required in some situations. They may or may not
require the use of an
implant.
Nipple
areolar reconstruction may be done in a variety of ways. These structures
can often be
formed from the skin of the newly reconstructed breast or from "grafts"
removed from other parts of
the body. The doctor will discuss this with you as well.
Recovery
time naturally will relate to the extent of the required surgical procedure
and will be dis-
cussed at the time of your consultation.
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