Breast Cancer Surgeon Explains Breast Reconstruction Options

According to a breast cancer surgeon in Kolkata, several breast reconstruction surgery options are available for women who have breast cancer surgery.

When determining which type is best for you, your physician will consider your health and personal preferences. Suppose you are planning to undergo reconstruction surgery. In that case, it is essential to take the time to educate yourself about your options and consider speaking with others who have undergone that procedure before making a decision.

 

 

In this blog, the breast cancer surgeon explains the various breast reconstruction surgeries to help you decide.

Breast Reconstruction After Breast-Conserving Surgery

Breast-conserving surgery does not involve the removal of the entire breast, and many women retain their nipples. The majority of women who undergo this procedure do not require breast reconstruction. However, some women may develop a breast deformity, such as dimpling, due to removing a large tumor from a small breast, says the best breast cancer doctor in Kolkata.

Surgeons can address this problem through a technique known as oncoplastic surgery, which combines cancer surgery and plastic surgery techniques. This type of reconstruction is frequently performed concurrently with breast cancer surgery, eliminating the need for additional operations.

These women may be candidates for various breast reconstruction procedures designed to reshape the breast.

To achieve the best results, surgeons may use one or more of the following techniques:

• Breast lift (mastopexy)

• Reduction of the breast (reduction mammaplasty)

• Tissue flaps from nearby areas, such as the back, to rebuild the breast shape

Breast Reconstruction Using Implants

Breast reconstruction with a breast implant is one method of reshaping your breast following a mastectomy, says the breast cancer surgeon in Kolkata. Typically, this entails at least two operations.

• The first surgery involves implanting a tissue expander, a flat "water balloon" that will gradually fill (expand) during subsequent office visits until the desired size is achieved.

• The second surgery involves the removal of the tissue expander and the placement of a breast implant. Additional procedures to reconstruct the nipple-areola area or revisions to improve the overall appearance may be performed.

Two types of breast implants are used to rebuild the breast – saline breast implants and silicone breast implants. Saline implants are filled with sterile (germ-free) saltwater. Silicone breast implants are usually made of cohesive gel, a thicker type of silicone implant. Silicone implants can retain their shape even when the shell is cut or broken. They are more robust than standard implants and may be less prone to rupture (break).

FLAP Procedure

A tissue flap procedure involves the reconstruction of the breast shape using tissue from other body parts, such as the back, tummy, thighs, or buttocks. Tissue flaps appear, feel, and function more naturally than breast implants, says the breast cancer doctor in Kolkata.

Unlike implants, tissue flaps will age and change just like the rest of your body's tissue. For example, they may grow or shrink in size as you gain or lose weight. And while breast implants may occasionally require replacement (if the implant ruptures, for example), tissue flaps do not require replacement.

 

Nipple and Areola Reconstruction Following Breast Surgery

Usually, breast reconstruction concludes with the nipple and areola. This is a separate operation performed to make the reconstructed breast appear more natural. It can be performed as an outpatient procedure or in the doctor’s office. Typically, it is performed between three and four months after breast cancer surgery in Kolkata, once the new breast has healed.

The tissue used to reconstruct the nipple and areola is derived from the newly formed breast or, less often, from another part of your body (such as the inner thigh).