Breast Implants

Choosing a Surgeon

2009-03-14T06:38:00.000-07:00

When choosing a surgeon who is experienced with breast reconstruction, you should know the answers to the following questions:

1. How many breast reconstruction implantation procedures does he/she perform per year?
2. How many years has he/she performed breast reconstruction procedures?
3. Is he/she board certified, and if so, with which board?
4. In which states is he/she licensed to practice surgery? Note that some states provide information on disciplinary action and malpractice claims/settlements to prospective patients either by request or on the World Wide Web.
5. What is the most common complication he/she encounters with breast reconstruction?
6. What is his/her reoperation rate with breast reconstruction and what is the most common type of reoperation he/she performs?

Breast Reconstruction Without Implants

2009-03-14T06:37:00.001-07:00

Breast Reconstruction Without Implants: Tissue Flap Procedures

The breast can be reconstructed by surgically moving a section of skin, fat, and muscle from one area of your body to another. The section of tissue may be taken from such areas as your abdomen, upper back, upper hip, or buttocks.

The tissue flap may be left attached to the blood supply and moved to the breast area through a tunnel under the skin (a pedicled flap), or it may be removed completely and reattached to the breast area by microsurgical techniques (a free flap). Operating time is generally longer with free flaps because of the microsurgical requirements.

Flap surgery requires a hospital stay of several days and generally a longer recovery time than implant reconstruction. Flap surgery also creates scars at the site where the flap was taken and on the reconstructed breast. However, flap surgery has the advantage of being able to replace tissue in the chest area. This may be useful when the chest tissues have been damaged and are not suitable for tissue expansion. Another advantage of flap procedures over implantation is that alteration of the unaffected breast is generally not needed to improve symmetry.

The most common types of tissue flaps are the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominus musculocutaneous flap) (which uses tissue from the abdomen) and the Latissimus Dorsi flap (which uses tissue from the upper back).

It is important for you to be aware that flap surgery, particularly the TRAM flap, is a major operation, and more extensive than your mastectomy operation. It requires good general health and strong emotional motivation. If you are very overweight, smoke cigarettes, have had previous surgery at the flap site, or have any circulatory problems, you may not be a good candidate for a tissue flap procedure. Also, if you are very thin, you may not have enough tissue in your abdomen or back to create a breast mound with this method.

Saline-Filled Breast Implant

2009-03-14T06:20:00.000-07:00

A breast implant is a sac (implant shell) of silicone elastomer (rubber), which is surgically implanted under your chest tissues, and then filled with saline, a saltwater solution, through a valve.

Are You Eligible for Saline-Filled Breast Implants?
Implants are to be used for females for the following indications (procedures):

* Breast Augmentation -This procedure is done to increase the size and proportions of a woman's breasts. A woman must be at least 18 years old for breast augmentation.
* Breast Reconstruction -This procedure is done to restore a woman's breast shape after a mastectomy or injury that resulted in either partial or total loss ofthe breast(s), or to correct a birth defect.

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2009-03-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

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