Early Reconstruction

In general, in early stage breast cancers, the plastic surgery team is involved in the operation and reconstructs the breast in the same surgery where the breast is removed. The advantage of this operation is that the patient is saved from having the operation for the second time, and most importantly, the breast is replaced immediately, and the woman feels less limb loss and psychological trauma. In the same surgery, both cancerous tissue is removed and a new breast is made.

Late Reconstruction

It is the case of late reconstructions in cases where it is decided to perform the reconstruction after these treatment methods with the joint decision of the oncologist, general surgeon and plastic surgery specialists in line with the need for additional treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy after the operations. In order to replace the lost breast, it is expected that the cancerous area will be taken under control or additional treatment will be completed.

Breast Repair Surgery Process

Removing the breast and repairing the breast are completely separate areas of expertise. The repair of the breast should not be done by a general surgeon, but by an aesthetic and plastic surgery specialist. Patients have the right to inquire about how to repair the breast that has been removed from the very first meeting, and they should request this.

Plans are made according to the general condition of the patient, the effects of radiotherapy treatment and the psychological state of the patient. Either the prosthesis options that can be placed from the outside or the operation options where the patient’s own tissue is used can be preferred.

While making the decision, whether there is any vascular damage due to radiotherapy in the breast taken, the patient’s presence of other diseases such as diabetes, heart and smoking are taken into consideration. Different parts of the patient’s back, abdomen, hips, and inner legs can be used in these surgeries.

The most preferred area in surgeries is the abdomen. In women who have given birth and have abdominal fat and sagging, this area’s skin and adipose tissue can be used for breast construction. By performing a procedure similar to a tummy tuck, the patient can transfer the already excess adipose tissue for breast reconstruction. It can be used in microsurgical methods in this transfer. Thus, while the patient’s breast is being made, tummy tuck is done at the same time.

Since the breast skin remains intact in simultaneous reconstructions, a prosthesis can be placed under the muscle tissue. In late reconstructions, in order to gain skin elasticity, tissue expander applications and then prosthesis applications can be made.

The purpose of the reconstruction is to repair the lost tissue as closely as possible. The first step is to form the breast that disappears on the anterior chest wall. In the second step, while the other breast is compared to this breast, the nipple is formed on the newly made breast. In the next step, it is planned to achieve a brown appearance of the nipple.

Who is Eligible for Breast Repair Operation?

Every patient diagnosed with breast cancer or undergoing mastectomy surgery can apply to a plastic surgeon for breast reconstruction with a surgery planned for him, unless there is an obstacle in the evaluations. It should be performed by a plastic aesthetic and reconstructive surgeon who is an expert in the field of breast reconstruction.

It is possible to encounter general problems like all surgical procedures. The risk is slightly increased in patients who smoke or have systemic problems such as diabetes or heart disease. In surgeries in which the patient’s own tissue is used, circulatory disorders that may occur in the transferred tissue and partial or complete tissue loss may occur, although rarely. For this reason, secondary options should be kept in hand while planning the surgeries.