DR FAIZAL ALI       

PLASTIC, RECONSTRUCTIVE AND COSMETIC SURGEON


Following breast reconstruction surgery, some of the common surgical procedures performed to further restore the breast to a near normal appearance are:


  • Nipple areola reconstruction
  • Breast reduction or augmentation surgery for the affected or contralateral breast
  • Scar revision surgery
  • Liposuction or fat grafting to improve the shape and contour of the breast

The simplest method for breast reconstruction after mastectomy is to insert a silicone filled implant under the pectoralis major muscle to simulate a breast mount. This is somewhat similar to a breast augmentation procedure although in breast reconstruction the goal is to recreate the breast mound , not to augment the breast. The procedure can be done at the same time as the mastectomy or can be a delayed procedure after the patient has finished other adjuvant treatment such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy. With the newer method of skin sparing mastectomy, breast reconstruction using implants only have become a more accepted method of reconstruction. The procedure is simple, fast and relatively affordable to the patient with no extra scarring as compared to reconstruction using flaps of tissue from the abdomen or the back.


Breast reconstruction can either be:


  • Immediate breast reconstruction – begins at the same time as mastectomy
  • commences after the mastectomy and recovers from any additional treatment of breast cancer such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.


There are many methods of breast reconstruction. The most common methods are:


  • Tissue expander or breast implant
  • Flap reconstruction – using patient’s own tissue from distant site (commonly donor site from abdomen, or back) to reconstruct the new breast (recipient site)

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION


In woman suffering from breast cancer, mastectomy and reconstruction is fast becoming the treatment of choice. Breast reconstruction is a reconstructive surgery procedure in woman who have had all or part of their breast removed. It is a breast operation aiming to create a near normal looking and feeling breast for the patient. Breast reconstruction is a physically and emotionally rewarding procedure for a woman who has lost a breast due to cancer or other condition. The creation of a new breast can dramatically improve a person’s self-image, self-confidence and quality of life. Although surgery can achieve a relatively natural-looking breast, a reconstructed breast will never look or feel exactly the same as the breast that was removed. Breast reconstruction involves surgical reconstructive procedures in an attempt to restore a breast to near normal shape, appearance and size following mastectomy. This surgical procedure can be performed either using patient’s own tissue (autologous tissue) or prosthetic materials or combination of both.