subject: Understanding The Benefits Of Breast Reconstruction Surgery - Patient Information [print this page] Breast reconstruction surgery, unlike breast augmentation surgery, is not usually used for purely cosmetic reasons. Breast reconstruction involves restoring the breast to a normal shape, size, and overall appearance.
During the breast reconstruction surgery, the patient will be under general anesthesia. The plastic surgeon will create a flap in the skin to access the breast. Tissue will be sculpted to create a natural looking breast. The skin is stretched to cover this new breast. Finally, skin grafting is used to create a nipple and areola, leading to a natural appearance in the reconstructed breast.
There are several choices when undergoing breast reconstruction. During the procedure, muscle, skin, and fat will be repositioned to cover the breast mound. Donor muscle, skin, or fat from other parts of the patients body, including the back or buttocks, may also be used to reconstruct the breast. In some cases, silicone or saline breast implants may also be used as an alternative to donor tissue.
Breast reconstruction surgery is often chosen by women who have had a mastectomy, or breast removal, due to breast cancer or high risk of cancer due to family history. Whether removed pre-emptively or as a result of cancer, breast reconstruction surgery can help restore the natural appearance of the breasts, especially if the patient has had only one breast removed. Breast reconstruction is undergone when a partial or full mastectomy has resulted in an unnatural appearance in the breasts, restoring a more feminine figure. Breast reconstruction is often combined with the mastectomy itself, though it can also be an option years after the initial procedure.
Despite the benefits of breast enlargement surgery, there are a few drawbacks. The reconstructed breast will never feel normal, and there will be a few scars. Still, breast construction can help cancer survivors feel normal after a mastectomy or other breast trauma.
