Breast reconstruction after mastectomy

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION AFTER RADICAL MASTECTOMY

Breast reconstruction after radical mastectomy (removal of the entire breast due to cancer) is a very demanding procedure in technical terms, from the planning of the procedure or a series of procedures to postoperative follow-up.

OPERATIONAL TECHNIQUES

Breast reconstruction usually involves a number of techniques: tissue expansion before implant insertion, Latissimus dorsi flap (taking the Broad Back Muscle as a natural “material” for making a new breast), TRAM flap, DIEP, construction of a completely new nipple, implant insertion – and if necessary adjusting other, healthy, breasts to achieve symmetry.

DURATION OF OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE AND RECOVERY

Due to the delicacy of the procedure, breast reconstruction operations take longer, usually from several acts and from 3 to 6 hours, depending on the type of intervention.

The average hospital stay is about 3 days. Possible complications, such as serum, hematoma, delayed healing may prolong recovery time.

Return to regular activities: Patients get up from bed the day after the operation and can gradually increase the time and distance of movement while they feel comfortable. By the third day, most patients can leave the clinic.

The scar will be located around the chest, as well as an additional horizontal or oblique scar 10-20 cm long on the back, near the scapula or a shorter (approx. 8 cm) scar in the armpit, when only skinless muscle is needed for reconstruction. Compression underwear is worn for at least 4 weeks. Reconstruction is usually completed several months after lobe transfer by reconstruction of the nipple and areola. In almost all unilateral reconstructions, additional breast symmetry procedures are required.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Compromise of shoulder function, reduced shoulder strength and range of motion in the shoulder girdle up to one year after surgery;

Scar on the back and accumulation of fluid (seroma).

SUBCUTANEOUS PROPHYLACTIC MASTECTOMY

Subcutaneous prophylactic mastectomy is the preventive removal of breast tissue, while preserving the nipple, areola and skin.

Such breast removal is a method of treating precancerous lesions and early-stage cancer in women with a family history of breast cancer, and / or if genetic testing indicates a high probability of future breast cancer (mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes). Mutations and familial predisposition do not always mean that a person will get cancer, although the percentage is high, but prevention in these cases is usually the best choice.

Most women who have a preventive (prophylactic) mastectomy remove both breasts at the same time (bilateral mastectomy).

In cases when the nipples and areolas are preserved, breast implantation and reconstruction can be performed in the same act, so additional operative procedures are not necessary.

The operation usually lasts a minimum of 2 or more hours and is performed under general anesthesia.

Patients get up from bed the day after the operation and usually after 2-3 weeks they can return to work with abstinence from heavy physical activities.

An experienced plastic surgeon in most cases can perform this procedure with minimal incisions and preserving the completely natural appearance of the breasts.

For more information on “Breast reconstruction after mastectomy” or to find out if this procedure is right for you, call A medic – dr Božović – Čelebić plastic surgery on +382 68 22 11 00 or +382 20 64 11 99 or