Breast reconstruction
For a woman, the removal of a breast because of cancer is experienced as a mutilation, a breach of femininity and the constant presence of a traumatizing memory. Currently, most cancer surgeons who perform this type of surgery know that a plastic surgeon will intervene secondarily.
The techniques
Breast reconstruction is different for each case :
- if there is enough skin and the pectoralis muscle has not been removed, an implant will be placed behind the muscle,
- on the contrary, if there is not enough skin, the remaining surface will be increased by an expander which will be progressively inflated during 2 months, twice a week.
It will expand the skin envelope to allow the placement of an implant,
- in some cases, particularly when the skin is damaged by postoperative radiation therapy, it is necessary to bring skin and muscle to the chest, by harvesting either from the back or from the abdomen (latissimus dorsi flap or Tram flap). The scars of the donor site are usually not very visible.
Two points need to be clarified :
- if necessary, the other breast can be reduced and its ptosis corrected,
- later, the areloa and the nipple will be reconstituted by different techniques.
Breasts
Reconstruction of the left breast after amputation. The breast has been reconstructed by a latissimus dorsi flap and a saline filled implant. The right breast’s ptosis has also been corrected.
- Hospitalization : 24 to 48 hours.
- Anesthesia : general.
- Dressing : as a bra right after the surgery and up to the fourth postoperative day, then a regular bra for two months, night and day.
- Resumption of normal activity : 15 days after surgery.
