Cosmetic surgery
Breast Reconstruction
Loss of sense of femininity and physical attractiveness occurs as a result of mastectomy – surgical removal of one or both breasts – becomes the source of insecurities that are difficult to overcome. Shame, physical and mental discomfort that accompany women are possible to overcome with breast reconstruction. Its goal is to create the breast (one or both) and give them a natural, attractive appearance. Breast reconstruction also has important implications for the therapeutic process of malignant tumors. It positively affects on a woman’s well-being, especially strengthening her faith in the possibility of a normal life despite the effects of the disease. The decision about breast reconstruction is usually taken in consultation with physicians of different specialties: oncologist, plastic surgeon, histopathologist and psychologist. The amount of removed breast tissue has a great effect on the way reconstruction will be carried out.
What types of mastectomy are there?
There are three basic types of mastectomy: radical (the whole breast is removed along with the skin around it), subcutaneous (the entire mammary gland is removed without the skin around it), and one that involves the removal of the tumor along with part of the gland immediately surrounding it. Sometimes breast reconstruction is performed during masectonomy itself.
What to expect during surgery?
A clear contraindication for this type of surgery is severe obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and heart disease. Breast reconstruction is typically performed with the use of silicone implants or using the patient’s own tissues. The course of reconstruction is mainly led by the health condition of the patient and type of masectonomy which she was subjected to. The operation is performed using general anesthesia and usually lasts from two to six hours. After its completion, several days of hospitalization is required. An extremely important issue after breast reconstruction is to apply the doctor’s indications.