Latest techniques in breast reconstruction
Written by:Breast cancer is one of the most difficult diseases to deal with for a woman, especially if it involves a mastectomy, or the surgical removal of the breast. However, modern surgery allows the use of innovative techniques to reconstruct the breast in the most natural form as possible (from the form point of view, of the tissues and physical characteristics). There are three techniques to intervene: the ce illustrates our expert in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery
Below are some of the techniques used for breast reconstruction.
skin expansion technique for breast reconstruction
The skin expansion technique is the most widely used and is based on the expansion of the skin where, subsequently, a prosthesis is placed. Following mastectomy, below the skin and the pectoral muscle it is placed an expander inside which is injected a saline solution. Once the skin is 'filled' enough, the expander is removed and replaced with a breast implant silicone. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia, with a hospital stay that includes 24 hours. As regards the areola and nipple, these are reconstructed subsequently, under local anesthesia and via outpatient. It is important to emphasize that it was not found any link between the appearance of breast cancer and the use of this type of prosthesis consisting of medical silicone.
Technique that involves the use of autologous tissue for breast reconstruction
Another technique for breast reconstruction is based on the body's own tissues transplantation (abdomen, back or buttocks). It is a very complicated technique that can leave some scar and the recovery period is longer. However, the aesthetic result is much more satisfactory because the breast is more natural. It is planned to general anesthesia and a hospital stay of three days.
mixed techniques for breast reconstruction
Another technique involves the placement of a prosthesis with autologous fat injection in order to obtain a natural form, at the sight and to the touch. In these cases there is provided a first session for extracting fat by means of liposuction , with the consequent improvement of the contour of the body in some specific cases, and, during the same operation, the fat is treated and injected below the skin of the chest, in the localized area scar of the previous mastectomy. Later, once improved elasticity and skin thickness, the expander is implanted. The fat can be used again in the final phase of reconstruction to perfect the contours of the breast. This complementary technique involves similar aesthetic results to those of the more complicated microsurgical reconstructions and provides fewer side effects. In addition, the aforementioned techniques (cutaneous expansion, tissue transplantation / grease and use of prosthesis) can be achieved through an immediate reconstruction, or is realized mastectomy and breast reconstruction during the same surgery. In any case, the choice of one of these three techniques depends exclusively on the patient.
The results of breast reconstruction
It should be emphasized that the results of breast reconstruction are final and allow you to lead a normal life. The reconstructed breast will have a natural shape and minor cosmetic defects will be seen only by the patient as minimal. Moreover, this surgery does not involve a pathological relapse (a tumor) or interfere with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.