Breast Reconstruction
Breast cancer affects women (and some men) of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities. Cancer patients with this life-threatening disease often will be treated with a lumpectomy or mastectomy breast cancer treatment, in which breast tissue is removed to reduce the spread of cancer. Many women are naturally concerned with how they will look and feel after having one of these operations and choose to have breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction surgery can restore the breast, including the nipple and areola, and help women feel whole again. Our Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons in Las Vegas are extensively trained in some of the most advanced breast reconstruction techniques. Our breast surgeons also work closely with leading oncologists in the area.
What Is Breast Reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is an opportunity to move forward, and we can help make it the best experience possible for you. We offer a range of breast reconstruction options, including both immediate reconstruction and delayed reconstruction that use either your natural tissue, silicone breast implants, or a combination of the two to help rebuild and restore one or both breasts after cancer treatment. There is a wide array of techniques available to reconstruct a natural breast shape, and our medical team can discuss the best approach for you during your initial consultation. This is a collaborative process in which your individual body type, needs and goals are carefully considered to find the optimal course of action. Contact us today for more information about this procedure or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our surgeons.
Is Breast Reconstruction Right for You?
Whether you wish to undergo breast reconstruction is up to you, and not all women choose to do so. Our plastic surgeons will be happy to help guide you by explaining what can be done and what the expected results might be. Reconstructive breast surgery often can be performed at the same time as a mastectomy, as well as months after recovery. When you are first diagnosed, there are many choices that need to be made. Ultimately the decision will be yours, and you will have our support in making it.
Benefits of Breast Reconstruction
The benefits of breast reconstruction are many, varied, and unique to each person. That said, in general, patients find that breast reconstruction can:
- Restore breast contour
- Enhance breast symmetry
- Develop the size and shape of the breast
- Restore a sense of wholeness and femininity
- Improve patient psychology and physical recovery following a mastectomy
You may discover other benefits as well. During your initial meeting with our plastic surgeons, you will discuss your concerns and goals, allowing them to customize a treatment plan that can help you feel like yourself again.
Types of Breast Reconstruction
There are many different techniques used to achieve the most natural-looking breast reconstruction possible. Reconstructive surgery is designed to restore the contour and volume of the breast after the cancer is removed. Breast tissue can be replaced with breast implants or autologous transfer (your own tissue). Treatment following a lumpectomy will be approached differently from treatment following a mastectomy. In a lumpectomy, a portion of breast tissue will be removed, which may leave a dent or bulge in the breast. Mastectomy involves the removal of the whole breast, including the nipple and areola. If one breast is removed, a symmetry procedure can be performed to make the breasts appear more similar. This operation, which can include breast augmentation, breast reduction, and/or breast lift, may be covered by insurance.1
The types of breast reconstruction include:
Tissue Expander and Implant Placement
Implant reconstruction is an option after mastectomy, which removes the entire breast. In the first step, a tissue expander is used to expand the breast pocket so it can hold a breast implant. The temporary expander will be placed under the chest (pectoral) muscle and will be gradually inflated over time to gently stretch the skin. Once the skin is able to accommodate the desired implant, a second surgery will be performed to place the implant in the reconstructed breast. Fat grafting can be added to this second surgery to achieve a more natural-looking appearance.
Autologous Reconstruction
In this procedure, your own natural tissue will be used to rebuild the breast. There are several techniques used, and two of the most common are the TRAM flap (transverse rectus abdominis) and the DIEP flap (deep inferior epigastric perforator). Flap reconstruction uses tissues from another part of the body, specifically a section of abdominal tissue, to rebuild the breast mounds on the chest wall. Many patients prefer tissue flap procedures because it has the added benefit of including a tummy tuck.
During this procedure, a flap is removed from the lower abdomen, including blood vessels for blood supply to reconstruct the breasts using the patient’s own natural tissue. It’s important to note, this operation typically requires about three-to-four weeks of downtime. Ideal candidates for this procedure will need to have enough soft tissue to create the breast, and the results should look and feel very natural.
Nipple and Areola Reconstruction
In cases of mastectomy, areola and nipple reconstruction are often reserved until months after the breast tissue has been restored. This procedure utilizes a piece of breast skin to create the nipple. The areola can then be created from a skin graft or a tattoo, depending on the needs and goals of the patient.
If you need additional information about breast cancer, breast reconstruction, or support groups, we would be happy to direct you to some forums where you can interact with others and find the material you’re interested in. We encourage you to educate yourself as much as possible to help make the best, most informed decision for your health and well-being.
Recovery Following Breast Reconstruction
The healing process following reconstruction procedures plays an essential role in the outcome of your new breasts. Every person’s recovery will be different and dependent upon their unique rate of healing, the type of reconstructive technique used, and various other factors. Commonly, patients experience swelling and bruising after the surgery, and these symptoms should gradually fade over several days. Some discomfort is to be expected, although it is usually mild and can be managed with prescription medication. Although your experience may differ, many women can return to work and normal daily activity after about one to two weeks, with more strenuous movement, such as weight lifting and vigorous exercise, to be avoided for at least six weeks. Our medical team will provide a comprehensive list of instructions to help make your recovery experience as pleasant, smooth, and swift as possible. If you have any questions outside of checkups, we welcome your phone calls at our office.
FAQs About Breast Reconstruction
How Much Does Breast Reconstruction Cost?
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 mandates that health insurance plans provide coverage for mastectomies for cancer treatment as well as any necessary breast reconstruction or related services. In the event you do not have medical insurance or your medical policy does not cover the full cost of treatment, we work with reputable plastic surgery financing firms that offer payment plans with interest-free loans and appealing terms. Applicants can determine eligibility by filling out an online form free of charge.2,3
We will review the full anticipated cost of your customized treatment plan during your initial appointment so you can be well-prepared and informed about your options. The cost of your procedure may vary significantly from this estimate, as the complexity of your case, selected approach, and other factors will play a role in the final price. We believe in transparency at all levels of treatment, and our medical team can go over all anticipated fees and make every effort to answer your questions as they arise. You have been through an emotional experience, and we want to assist in making your healing journey a comfortable and confident one.
Does breast reconstruction have any risks?
When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, breast reconstruction is considered safe. However, as with any surgery, breast reconstruction does have some risks which include anesthesia risks, infection, bleeding, and poor wound healing.4
How soon can I have breast reconstruction following a mastectomy?
How soon you can have breast reconstruction will be determined by you and your team of health care providers, including your oncologist and plastic surgeon. Some women undergo immediate breast reconstruction which is performed at the same time as a mastectomy. Others will have delayed reconstruction, which will take place once the tissue has healed enough to accommodate a tissue expander and eventually an implant, typically two to six months following mastectomy.5
Schedule Your Breast Reconstruction Consultation
Our surgeons are the primary reconstructive surgeons at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, and they have a vast amount of experience with all types of simple and complex breast and oncology reconstruction. We invite you to contact our office in Las Vegas at (702) 948-7595 to schedule your complimentary appointment.
1 BreastCancer.org. Types of Breast Reconstruction. Available: https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/reconstruction/types. Accessed August 26, 2020.
2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Women’s Health and Cancer Rights ACT (WHCRA) Fact Sheet. Available: https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Other-Insurance-Protections/whcra_factsheet. Accessed August 26, 2020.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Reconstruction Cost. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/cost. Accessed August 26, 2020.
4 ASPS. What are the risks of breast reconstruction? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/safety. Accessed October 21, 2022.
5 NIH. Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy. Available: https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/reconstruction-fact-sheet#:~:text=The%20expander%20is%20slowly%20filled,to%206%20months%20after%20mastectomy. Accessed October 21, 2022.
This content has either been authored or reviewed and approved by the doctors at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates.