In the tragic cases where a full mastectomy is necessary to treat breast cancer, reconstruction is usually a welcome option. Modern technologies allow for the restoration of your breasts to an appearance that looks natural. These surgeries are conducted by specialized plastic surgeons and are now considered normal for patients undergoing a 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 commonly chosen option. Today, these are usually saline filled bags with a silicon outer shell. They are placed in front of the chest wall muscles under the skin covering the breast area.

In the past silicon filled implants were more commonly used than they are today. Then a concern arose regarding the possibility of silicon leaking into the body thus causing immune system malfunction. The FDA has recently announced that after years of careful observation and study there is little basis for worry thus making silicon breast implants legal again. Some individuals prefer them because they behave differently within the body.

In many instances reconstruction is done simultaneously with the mastectomy. In other cases physicians recommend that you wait for a period of time to allow the body to heal prior to performing any further surgery. Each case is different and can only be decided based upon its own circumstances.

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) is one of the most common types of tissue flap procedures. This procedure uses tissue from the lower abdominal wall. A pedicle flap leaves the tissue attached to the original blood supply and stretches the tissue all the way up into the breast area.

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 instance nipple and/or areola reconstruction might be required. It can be done simultaneously, later, and sometimes not at all. The nipple from the original breast is usually not used out of fear that it could regenerate cancer.

Keep in mind that reconstructive surgery is not performed without risks.

You can have the typical surgical complications including infection, and scarring. Breast implants also are not guaranteed to last a lifetime and depending upon your age may need to be replaced via another surgery at a later time. The final result might not be what the patient was expecting. Only a complete in depth consultation with a physician can provide a realistic assessment of what to expect.

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