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Breast reconstruction can be a crucial step in helping you feel like yourself again after surgery or injury. This procedure aims to restore natural shape and appearance, providing both physical and emotional healing. We can help meet your specific needs while guiding you through every step.
For many women, body image is an essential part of their identity and well-being. A breast cancer diagnosis, which often brings the possibility of losing a breast, can severely impact their body image, leading to considerable anxiety. The diagnosis process is typically swift, requiring quick decisions about body-altering procedures. While the primary goal is to ensure the complete removal of cancer and effective treatment, advances in early diagnosis and treatment have significantly improved disease-free survival rates. In Tampa, several breast reconstruction centers help mitigate the traditional negative body image impacts, offering solutions to decrease anxiety and improve overall well-being.
When faced with a breast cancer diagnosis, choosing the right breast surgery is crucial. During your consultation, your breast cancer diagnosis’s type and extent will be thoroughly discussed. This will guide the treatment recommendations from your breast surgeon and possibly an oncologist. Treatment options may include a lumpectomy, where only the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue are removed, or a mastectomy, which involves the removal of the entire breast. Some patients may opt for a mastectomy for prophylactic reasons to reduce the risk of cancer developing in the future. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be recommended as part of the treatment plan, either before or after surgery. This comprehensive information helps create an individualized reconstruction plan tailored to your specific needs.
Breast reconstruction is a critical aspect of the treatment plan for many women undergoing breast cancer surgery. There are two main categories of breast reconstruction: tissue expansion with implants and flap reconstruction.
Tissue Expansion with Implants: This common procedure involves placing expanders under the chest muscle and skin during the mastectomy. These expanders are gradually filled with saline solution to stretch the skin and muscle, making room for the final implants. Once the desired expansion is achieved, the expanders are replaced with soft silicone implants. Dr. Polecritti employs advanced techniques, including a dermal matrix sling, to create a more natural breast appearance. This method allows for a gradual adjustment period, helping patients adapt to their new body shape over time.
Flap Reconstruction: This technique uses tissue from other parts of the body, such as the back, abdomen, or buttocks, to reconstruct the breast. There are two main types of flap procedures: the pedicle flap, where the tissue remains attached to its original blood supply and is rotated into place, and the free flap, where the tissue is completely detached and then reattached to the chest area using microsurgery. Flap reconstruction is often more complex and time-consuming than implant reconstruction, but it can be particularly beneficial for patients with radiation-damaged tissue or insufficient skin for expansion. Common flap techniques include the Latissimus Dorsi flap, the TRAM flap, and the DIEP flap. Dr. Polecritti will discuss the best reconstructive option based on your individual case and medical history.
Achieving symmetry between the reconstructed breast and the non-operated breast is a common concern for many patients. Each patient’s healing process is unique, and it can be challenging to predict the exact outcome. However, most patients are pleased with their breast reconstruction results and feel comfortable wearing feminine clothing.
In cases where the non-operated breast is sagging or excessively large, a breast lift or reduction may be performed to enhance symmetry and improve the overall appearance. Dr. Polecritti will work closely with you to ensure the best possible outcome, taking into account your personal preferences and desired results.
The number of surgeries required for breast reconstruction can vary depending on several factors. For tissue expander/implant reconstruction, the initial surgery involves placing the expander at the same time as the mastectomy. Several months later, a second surgery is performed to replace the expander with the final implant. Many patients also opt for nipple reconstruction or tattooing, which can be done as an additional procedure. Flap reconstruction typically involves the initial flap placement during the mastectomy, with potential follow-up procedures for nipple reconstruction if desired. Minor surgical corrections may be needed to address healing variations, scarring, or mal-position, adding to the total number of procedures required to achieve the ideal result.
The recovery period for breast reconstruction varies depending on the type of procedure and individual patient factors. In most cases, the initial reconstruction is performed simultaneously with the mastectomy, minimizing additional discomfort or surgical risk. After surgery, one or two drains are placed under the skin to remove fluid and residual blood, remaining in place for 1-2 weeks to assist with the healing process. Most patients stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring and pain management. Upon discharge, patients receive prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medication and are advised to wear a surgical support bra.
Discomfort typically subsides within the first week, and patients can gradually increase their activity levels during this time. If tissue expanders are used, expansion begins once the incision has healed and continues over several months. The final expander-to-implant exchange is an outpatient procedure with minimal discomfort, allowing patients to return to normal activities within a day or two.
By understanding the options and processes involved in breast reconstruction, women diagnosed with breast cancer can make informed decisions that best suit their needs and enhance their recovery journey. Dr. Polecritti and the team are dedicated to providing compassionate care and the latest techniques to ensure the best possible outcomes for their patients.
For many women, body image is an important part of ones identity and contributes to their feeling of well-being. When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, the possibility of losing a breast and how that will affect their body image can be devastating. The diagnosis is typically sudden and many body-altering procedures are being considered and decisions are being made at a swift pace. This can cause considerable anxiety. The most important decision is to ensure all cancer is removed and the necessary treatment modalities are being used. However, because many women are being diagnosed earlier and are treated sooner, the disease free survival rate has greatly improved. Today, there are several breast reconstruction centers available in Tampa which can decrease the anxiety and limit the negative body image impact the disease traditionally caused. Once you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you should start thinking about reconstructive surgery.
During your consultation, a discussion about the type and extent of your breast cancer diagnosis will be performed. These factors will dictate the recommendations for treatment by the breast surgeon and possibly the oncologist. In some cases, a lumpectomy will be recommended as necessary treatment. In others, removal of the entire breast (mastectomy) will be the only option. In some cases, a patient may wish to have a mastectomy for prophylactic reasons. In many cases, chemotherapy and radiation therapy will be recommended either before or after surgery. All of this information will be gathered and discussed with you in order to construct an individualized plan for your reconstruction options.
There are two main categories of breast reconstruction procedures: tissue expansion with implants and flap reconstruction.
Tissue expansion with implant reconstruction is the most common procedure. During this procedure, expanders are placed under the chest muscle (pectoralis major) and skin. This is usually done at the same time of the mastectomy. Over the next several weeks, the expanders are filled with water allowing the skin and muscle to stretch. Once this process is complete, the expanders are removed and exchanged for soft silicone implants. There are many slight differences in technique that can have significant impact on the results. Dr. Polecritti uses the most cutting edge techniques including use of a dermal matrix sling allowing for a much more natural result.
Flap reconstruction uses tissues from other parts of your body to create a flap. The tissue is commonly taken from the back, abdomen or buttocks. In some cases the tissue is stretched and rotated into place. In others, the tissue is separated and reattached to the breast defect area with use of the microscope. The former is called a pedicle-flap, the later is called a free-flap. In either case, these procedures are usually more complex. They typically take significantly longer to perform and have an additional donor site to heal. In some cases, an implant is needed in addition to the flap to provide adequate size. This option is very useful in cases when there is suspect tissue that has been damaged from the radiation treatment. This procedure is also useful is cases where there just isn’t enough skin to stretch with an expander. The most common flaps used for breast reconstruction are the Latissimus flap, the TRAM flap and the DIEP flap. During your consultation, Dr. Polecritti will discuss with you the best reconstructive option based on your individual case.
Each patient’s disease and treatment process is unique and it is difficult to predict how every patient will heal. Most patients are quite pleased with the reconstruction results and feel comfortable wearing feminine clothing. In some cases the non-operated breast is sagging or excessively large. When this is the case, it may be an option to perform a lift or reduction on this side resulting in a nicer shaped breast and better symmetry to the reconstructed side.
It depends on many factors during your treatment. With the expander/implant reconstruction; one surgery to place the expander performed at the same time of the mastectomy, and a second smaller surgery several months later to remove the expander and place the implant. Many patients wish to have a nipple reconstructed on top of the reconstructed breast. This is an optional third surgery that in many cases can be performed in the office. With flap reconstruction, the initial flap insertion is done at the same time of the mastectomy. If expanders are not also used, the only other procedure offered is the nipple reconstruction after the breast heals. However, with either reconstruction, differences in healing, scarring, and mal-position can occur. When these occur, minor surgical correction may be needed and will ultimately add to the total number of procedures needed to get an ideal result.
In most cases the initial reconstruction is performed at the same time of the mastectomy. Adding the reconstruction to the procedure does not add much to the patient’s discomfort or surgical risk. After surgery, one or two drains will remain under the skin to drain fluid and residual blood. These remain in for 1-2 weeks to assist with the healing process. Most patients remain in the hospital for a couple days for monitoring and pain control. Upon discharge, the patient is given a prescription for antibiotics and pain medication. You will also be asked to wear a surgical support bra. Discomfort typically subsides over the first week and activity can be gradually increased over this time. Once your incision has healed, expansion of the expanders can start if they were used in your reconstruction. They are gradually filled over the next couple months. The expander to implant exchange is a same day outpatient procedure usually performed at a surgery center. The discomfort is minimal with this procedure and patients return to normal activity typically within a day or two.
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Most commonly performed on women with breast cancer, breast reconstruction surgery is a procedure in which implants, tissue, or both are used to reshape one or both breasts. However, this procedure is also performed for congenital disabilities and trauma, as well.
The length of surgery depends upon the patient and the type of reconstruction. However, if one breast needs to be reconstructed, the procedure is typically 2 hours or less. If both breasts need to be reconstructed, the procedure can take 3 hours or more to complete.
Each patient is different. Reconstruction may be performed during the same surgery as mastectomy or at a later date. Factors such as chemotherapy and radiation may affect timing and type of reconstruction recommended. Please consult with your doctor on when would be the best time for you.
A federal law enacted in 1998, the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act (WHCRA), requires insurance companies and plans that cover mastectomies to also cover breast reconstruction. However, as there are many different types of breast reconstruction surgeries, insurance plans may not cover all types. Please consult with your doctor and check your health plan’s guidelines.
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstruction/paying-for-reconstruction
Most patients are released from the hospital a couple of days after their procedure, but it is dependent on the type of procedure you have. You will have 1 to 2 drains for fluid that will remain in for up to 3 weeks, based upon the doctor’s recommendations. Most patients resume normal activities 6 to 8 weeks after surgery.
Mammograms may be performed if needed, however, usually is not the case. We recommend you follow the recommendations of your oncologist.
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