Post-Masectomy Reconstruction

A good step before a mastectomy is to consult with a plastic surgeon on the options of breast reconstruction to learn about the various reconstruction possibilities available to you. At the same time as reconstruction, it may be desirable to augment or reduce the size of the opposite breast to make the overall result of the surgery as symmetrical as possible.

After a mastectomy when remaining breast skin is loose and has adequate thickness, reconstruction may be accomplished solely by means of a surgical implant. The surgeon will usually make an incision where the lower position of the breast would be. Working through the incision the surgeon creates a pocket beneath the skin and remaining muscle. In the pocket the surgeon places the implant, a thin plastic envelope containing a silicone gel, saline solution or a combination of both.

When the skin of the chest is too tight to accommodate the implant, additional skin is needed to create a pocket for the implant. Donor tissue is frequently taken from a portion of the broad muscle in the back or lower abdomen. The donor site is then closed with sutures, leaving behind a scar.

In some patients a balloon-like device called a skin or tissue expander is placed beneath the chest muscle and gradually filled with saline solution over several weeks.

The stretched skin allows implantation of a prosthesis to create a more generous breast mound. After surgery, soreness and discomfort will be felt, both in the new breast and in the donor site if a flap has been brought into the area from the back or abdomen. Sutures are usually removed within two weeks of surgery. Dr. Block will advise you on resuming your normal schedule. Excessive exercise and overhead lifting should be avoided for several weeks following surgery.

Related Procedures

Breast Augmentation Chicago

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