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Contact
Us Breast Cancer Info & The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Cancer Center Connecticut |
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Click here
for information on an exhibition of Dr. Jeffrey Rosenthal's photography and paintings at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport , Connecticut. |
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75 Kings Hwy. Cutoff
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| Questions For You and Your Plastic Surgeon | ||||
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1. Does breast reconstruction interfere
with other treatments (for example, chemotherapy or
radiotherapy)? Both treatments can start fairly soon after the reconstruction; however, a slight delay may be necessary to allow the surgical wounds to start healing. Neither therapy is made less effective by the breast reconstruction. Radiotherapy for cancer prior to the breast reconstruction can affect the quality of the remaining skin. This may mean you will need a tissue transfer or tissue expansion operation. 2. Does the breast implant cause cancer? No. Medical research to date does not indicate that the implant causes cancer. 3. Will a recurrence of breast cancer be hidden after the breast is reconstructed? Normally, a local recurrence is first seen in the skin of the chest or the scar tissue left behind after the operation. Both of these areas can usually be seen or felt by your doctor during your follow-up examinations. Tissue transfer techniques may be a slight hindrance to physical examinations, as new skin and muscle are brought to the chest. Continued follow-up examinations by your physician will help to detect any changes. 4. Will my reconstructed breast feel normal? The gel or saline-filled implant matches the breast tissue that has been removed in weight, size, and consistency. The breast may remain soft or become firmer than the day it was restored due to capsule formation. Fat within tissues transferred may atrophy or become thinner causing a change in breast consistency. Keep in mind that breasts normally feel slightly different from side to side and from woman to woman. The new breast skin will feel normal to the touch, but some areas may feel numb. This is due to the mastectomy which removed or cut many of the nerves leading to the breast. Likewise, the new nipple and areola will look and feel normal to touch, but lack in most sensitivities. 5. Will the new breast look exactly like the one which was removed? No, it would be almost impossible to exactly copy the removed breast, but in many cases a close match can be obtained. 6. Is the recovery period lengthy or painful after reconstructive surgery? Depending upon the method used, various physical restrictions may be placed upon you. In general, no strenuous activities can be performed for at least three weeks from the time of the reconstruction to allow for initial healing to take place. Most women notice some stiffness and soreness in the operated areas, which is short-lived and usually relived by mild painkillers and local therapy (e.g., stretching). When combined with the mastectomy, the sub-muscular implant or tissue expansion reconstruction does not cause additional discomfort. Tissue transfer may cause additional discomfort in the donor site. Any further limitations, as well as individual information on what to expect after the operation, should be fully discussed with your surgeon before the reconstruction. 7. Do I need nipple and areola reconstruction? The final stages or finishing touches are entirely up to you. Many women are very satisfied to have just the breast mound, while others feel that the nipple/areola transforms the mound into a visual breast. There is no need to make this decision until the breast has settled in. 8. Is it always necessary to alter the opposite breast? Once again, you are an active participant in the decision to operate upon the other breast. In many instances uplifting, reducing, or enlarging this breast will allow for better symmetry between the two breasts. 9. With immediate reconstruction, is the hospital stay prolonged over that of the mastectomy alone? The recovery time is usually about the same; however, this will depend upon the type of reconstruction and if there are any associated complications. 10. Is the breast implant easily broken or damaged? Both the gel and saline-filled implants are surrounded by a strong silicone envelope. Under normal conditions they do not break. In the rare case of the implant leaking, rupturing or deflating, it may be substituted for a new one, usually without affecting the previous results. 11. Does capsule formation around the implant or expander have any effect on the reconstruction? Every man-made prosthesis is surrounded by scar tissue. This is the body’s way of isolating it. In some cases the scar tissue becomes overabundant causing the implant to feel harder than normal. If firmness or distortion of the breast becomes a problem, then the capsule can be surgically broken. 12. What is the most common type of breast reconstruction? The placement of an implant below the chest muscles after the mastectomy can give very pleasing results if there are adequate healthy tissues present. Individual selection for this and every other type of restoration procedure is critical. The options available for your particular situation should be thoroughly discussed before the reconstruction takes place. 13. Will I ever view the reconstructed breast as my own? Studies show that within months of the surgery women begin to assimilate their new breast into their own body image and soon thereafter feel it is their own. 14. Do my expectations about the breast reconstruction play a role in my satisfaction level? Definitely. Having a realistic idea of what to expect and knowing that the new breast will never be an exact duplicate of the one removed will assist in your satisfaction. 15. Are most women pleased with their results and if given the opportunity would they do it again? The vast majority say that they would undergo either immediate or delayed reconstruction again. Having the ability to wear normal clothing and not constantly being reminded of the cancer, by a flattened chest, has helped them adjust to the mastectomy. 16. Will I still be able to have a breast reconstruction if I did not consult a plastic surgeon before my mastectomy? The availability of breast reconstruction does not depend on the length of the interval between the mastectomy and your decision to have reconstruction. It is determined by your health and the quality and amount of tissues remaining after the mastectomy. A discussion with your surgeon beforehand, however, will enable planning of the breast reconstruction and possibly allow for immediate reconstruction. 17. Is breast reconstruction available from the National Health Service? Yes. If you have had or are going to have a mastectomy as cancer treatment, you are entitled to a free breast reconstruction from the National Health Service. Alternatively, if you prefer, there are surgeons who will do reconstructive surgery privately. One must be responsible for one’s own well being. I hope that I have assisted you in your quest and that you will continue to seek out those answers that will benefit your recovery. Jeffrey S. Rosenthal, M.D. Chief, Section Plastic Surgery Bridgeport Hospital Private Practice-Cosmetic Surgery Diplomat, American Board of Plastic Surgery Copyright© 1986 Written BACUP (England) Modified 2008 Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center |
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