BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY AND ITS RECOVERY

Mastectomy or the removal of a single or both the breasts of a human female can be very depressing. It is generally performed when the breast cells develop to a cancerous stage and there is no other way of preventing it other than complete removal of the organ. Loss of the mammary glands can be very de-motivating for some females.

This becomes acute especially in public space when they need to walk out in the open. So in order to fill out the space there are many breast reconstruction surgeries where the removed breast is newly created using surgical procedures. So read on.

List of Breast Reconstruction Surgeries

Breast Implants Surgery

This is perhaps the most common form of breast surgery. They cause the least scarring. Here the breast has been removed an implant is implanted below your chest muscle. Specially made skins are used to create a layer to hold the breast implant properly in place. If the surgery is done a little time after mastectomy, the surgeon may require performing tissue expansion as well.

Source: http://www.riversideonline.com/health_reference/Womens-Health/MY00389.cfm

The new breast created looks very much like your original organs. Implants can have a few drawbacks. These are made out of silicone or saline or a combination of both and could be harmful for the patient in later stages.

Tissue Flap Procedures

This is another type of breast reconstruction surgery. Here skin from your tummy, back thighs, or buttocks is used to build the new organ. TRAM flap or Transverse Rectus Abdominis Muscle flap and Latissimus Dorsi Flap are the two common form of this surgery. Here tissues form the lower abdomen and upper back are used respectively for creating the new breast.

Source: http://e-dok.rm.dk/e-dok/e_700301.NSF/UNIDInformationsdokumenterPDA/880DC788647573A9C12578060038C5E0?OpenDocument

The latissimus dorsi is a muscle in the back. Muscle, fat, and skin are also taken from the buttocks to create a new breast. This goes well with women who are of thin built. The surgeon uses this muscle to construct a new breast in the operated region.

Fat Grafting For Breast Reconstruction

This is another type of surgery where the surgeon used fat tissues from different parts of the body such as tummy, thighs to create a new breast with the same shape and contour. It is also known as Lipofilling or fat transfer.

Nerve Regeneration Procedure

Source: http://drluudoan.luudoancosmeticinstitute.com/?page_id=147

This is a new State of the Art surgical procedure for breast reconstruction. Here tissues are transplanted from the patient’s abdomen and inserted into the newly created breast to have the sensation when inserted there. this is a comparatively new form of surgery. So it is advisable to get it done by a reputed plastic surgeon only.

Breast Reconstruction Recovery

The recovery after having undergone a breast reconstruction surgery is high. There are many survival stories of patients who have had survived the problem of breast cancer. There are certain follow ups that the patient needs to follow such as the place of reporting after the operation, the medications to be taken etc, the way of taking a shower, resuming normal activity and exercise etc. there will be a few scars and bruises because of the surgeries but they eventually fade with time. This surgery helps to uplift the mood of a dying patient. It helps in building the lost self esteem of a woman.

Photo Credit: http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/zm6352