Alternative Cancer Treatment - Breast Cancer & Reconstruction
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In the unfortunate event where a full mastectomy is required to treat breast cancer, reconstruction is often a much welcomed option. With modern technology, techniques, and materials that are available it is possible to restore the breasts appearance to its original form with hardly any visible scarring. When this procedure is carried out it is done so by plastic surgeons specializing in restoration. It has now become a commonplace following a full mastectomy.
There are many different techniques an each case is unique and approached on an individual and personalized basis. A consultation with a physician is necessary in order to select the right method and approach for you.
Breast implants are one option that is typically chosen. Today implants are typically saline filled bags encased in silicone. They are placed in front of the chest wall muscles under the skin that covers the breast area.
In years past, silicon filled implants were more typical. There was a concern for the possibility of silicon leaking into the body and causing immune system problems. But the FDA recently announced, after years of careful study, that there was little basis for worry and silicon breast implants are now legal again. Some prefer them for their different behavior.
In some cases, reconstruction is done during the mastectomy. In others, physicians recommend a waiting period to allow the body to heal before any further surgery. Each case is individual and can only be decided on its own merits.
Usually, two-staged delayed reconstruction is performed if the skin and chest wall tissues are flat. In this instance an implant, called a tissue expander that functions much like a balloon under the tissue, is placed underneath the muscle. A surgeon then injects saline in stages over a specific period of time. In some cases the expander itself eventually becomes the implant. In other instances the expander is removed during a later procedure and replaced with a permanent implant.
Another breast surgery type that might be conducted are tissue flap procedures. These procedures use skin from the stomach, thighs or other areas as part of the entire process.
TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap) surgery is one of the most common types of muscle flap surgeries. It utilizes tissues from the lower abdominal wall. A pedicle flap leaves the tissue attach to its original blood supply and stretches the tissue up toward the breast area. A free flap muscle procedure removes all of the tissue in addition to muscles, fat, and blood vessels. It then reattaches them to blood vessels under the chest.
Another, almost equally common procedure takes tissue from the upper back. A flap is moved in front of the chest wall in effort to create a pocket. A breast implant is then inserted into the pocket. Additionally, other procedures are available such as gluteal muscle tissue.
In each case, nipple and/or areola reconstruction may or may not be part of the total surgery. It may be done later or not at all. Rarely is the nipple from the original breast used as a replacement out of concern that it may regenerate the cancer.
Keep in mind that reconstructive surgery is not performed without risks.
All of the normal surgical complications such as infection or scarring, and capsular contracture (scar tissue forming around the implant) can occur. Additionally breast implants might not last a lifetime, and depending upon each individual’s circumstances including age. Replacing your implants might require an additional surgery at a later time period in life. The end result might or might not be what the patient wanted or expected. Only a consultation with a physician specializing in reconstruction will provide the patient with realistic outcomes to expect.
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