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Immediate
Breast Reconstruction |
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With immediate
reconstruction, the breast is removed and simultaneously
reconstructed, or at least the beginnings of reconstruction will
be carried out. This is done with either an inflatable medical
balloon, which stretches the remaining available tissues, an
internal permanent prosthesis (silicone gel or saline-filled
implant) or with tissue transfer, which will be discussed later
on. The main advantages of this technique, if available for you,
are in the economy of time due to the reduction in the overall
number of operations and its positive effect on your
psychological outlook. The period of mourning and depression
often experienced with mastectomy is markedly diminished once
the breast restoration has begun. Likewise, the sense of loss
associated with the mastectomy is shortened, and in many cases
not experienced, as the substitute breast has already taken its
place. The ability to get on with your life and potentially
reduce the overall number of operations also makes this an
attractive alternative. Additional procedures may follow to
refine the breast shape, exchange implants, alter the opposite
breast to give better symmetry, or to build a nipple and areola.
Immediate reconstruction allows the plastic surgeon to work with
the general surgeon in designing the best and most appropriately
shaped breast at the time of the mastectomy.
As the reconstruction starts immediately after the mastectomy,
this adds to the overall operating and anesthesia time. However,
it does reduce the total number of operations. At the conclusion
of these procedures your surgeons will be concerned not only
with the healing of the mastectomy site, but also with the
progress of the newly restored breast. Despite being a valuable
option, not all women are good candidates for immediate
reconstruction. Factors such as the size and extent of your
breast cancer as well as your overall general health may make
immediate reconstruction impractical.
BACK |
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Roses Grown and Photographed By
Dr. Jeffrey Rosenthal |
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