A mastectomy, or removal of all or part of one or both breasts, is followed by breast reconstruction surgery. Breast reconstruction surgery is restoring a breast to the appearance and function of a natural breast. With breast reconstruction surgery, you can achieve a natural-looking breast that fits well with the rest of your body.
The first step in breast reconstruction surgery is deciding what type you want: implant, autologous tissue transfer, or fat transfer. These three methods are often used in different combinations to achieve the desired outcome.
What is a Mastectomy?
Mastectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the breast tissue to treat or prevent cancer. The entire breast can be removed (total mastectomy) or just the part that contains cancer cells (lumpectomy). Sometimes, mastectomy is done together with radiation therapy, which uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells.
Mastectomies are often done as a preventive measure when there appears to be an increased risk of developing breast cancer, such as when a woman has no children and starts menstruating at an early age.
What are the Benefits of Breast Reconstruction Surgery?
After mastectomy, breast reconstruction surgery is a surgical procedure to reconstruct the shape and size of a woman’s breasts. Surgery for breast reconstruction can occur with implants, tissue from another part of the body, or an expander combined with a breast implant. The procedure is also available without implants as another type of cancer treatment.
A woman who has had breast reconstruction surgery can feel more confident about her appearance and have a better quality of life.
How Long Does it Take to Recover from Breast Reconstruction Surgery?
6 to 8 weeks are usually sufficient for most women to resume normal activities. You may recover faster if you use implants without flaps. You should remember that some types of reconstruction surgery don’t restore your breast’s normal sensation, while others might gradually return it.
Would you like to get breast reconstruction in Grand Rapids, MI, after a mastectomy? Then Elite Plastic Surgery is the place for you. Please call 616-459-4131 to get in touch with us.
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