BREAST RECONSTRUCTION
You can ask what's on your mind.
Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure performed to recreate the appearance of the breast in patients who have had or will undergo surgery due to breast cancer. There are many methods available and they are selected based on the patient's needs. In patients who have previously undergone mastectomy and have completed necessary radiation therapy, delayed reconstruction can be performed. The Latissimus dorsi muscle-flap from the back can be used for breast reconstruction. This flap is usually supported by a silicone breast implant.
If the patient requires radiation therapy, an expander (balloon) is placed inside the empty breast envelope after mastectomy and is gradually filled to a certain volume before the radiation therapy is completed. Once the balloon is filled to the desired level, it is removed and replaced with a silicone prosthesis. Products such as bovine pericardium, acellular dermal matrix or prolene mesh can be used to provide support to the skin tissue.
If the patient is not going to receive any further treatment, breast reconstruction can be performed using a silicone prosthesis at the same time as mastectomy. Simultaneous breast lift surgery on the opposite breast may also be preferred for aesthetic purposes.
Similarly, reconstructive procedures in line with plastic surgery principles are performed to prevent the deformed appearance of the breast after breast-conserving segmental mastectomy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Yes, it can be rebuilt using tissue transfer from different parts of the body or neighboring areas.
Yes, a suitable-sized breast implant (silicone) can be placed in the same session as your surgery to replace the empty breast tissue.
Yes, in such cases, we prefer a two-stage breast reconstruction. An expander-balloon is placed after mastectomy and inflated to a certain level. After the radiotherapy process is completed, the balloon is further inflated until the final volume is reached, and then a second operation is performed to remove the balloon and replace it with a real prosthesis.
In such cases, if direct implant repair is performed, materials such as bovine pericardium (tutopach), ADM (acellular dermal matrix), galaflex, prolen mesh, etc., can be used to cover the prosthesis and prevent direct contact with the skin.
Patients who have a history of mastectomy and require breast reconstruction can have a Latissimus dorsi muscle-skin flap transferred from the back to the breast area. If the patient's back is fatty and thick, an additional breast implant may not be needed. If it is not, breast reconstruction is performed along with a breast implant.
It can be done surgically as a third operation or it can be done as a tattoo in the form of a tattoo.
