Are you wondering what is breast reconstruction surgery? Breast reconstruction surgery is a procedure to rebuild the shape and appearance of a breast. It may be performed after a mastectomy, which is surgery to remove all or part of the breast. Breast reconstruction surgery can also be performed after a lumpectomy, which is surgery to remove only a cancerous tumour from the breast.
There are many types of breast reconstruction surgery and the type of surgery that is right for you will depend on many factors, including your overall health, the size and shape of your breasts, and the amount of skin and tissue that needs to be removed. Breast reconstruction surgery can be performed using implants or your tissue.
Breast reconstruction surgery is segmented into three types. They are
- Flaps reconstruction
- Implant-based breast reconstruction
- Combination of both types
Flaps reconstruction: Flaps reconstruction is one of the popular breast reconstruction surgery options in which the surgeon uses skin, fat, and muscle from another part of your body to rebuild the breast. The most common type of flap surgery is the pedicle flap. This type of surgery uses skin, fat, and muscle from your back, belly, or buttocks to create a new breast. The surgeon will make an incision in the skin of your chosen area and carefully detach the skin, fat, and muscle from the underlying tissue. This tissue is then moved to the chest area and shaped into a new breast mound.
Implant-based breast reconstruction: Implant-based breast reconstruction is a type of surgery in which an implant is used to rebuild the shape and appearance of the breast. The most common type of implant is the saline implant, which is filled with sterile saltwater. Silicone implants are also available, but they are not as commonly used.
Implant-based breast reconstruction can be performed using either an inflatable or a solid silicone implant. The type of implant that is right for you will depend on your overall health, the size and shape of your breasts, and the amount of skin and tissue that needs to be removed.
Inflatable implants are filled with sterile saltwater and are inflated after they are placed in the breast pocket. Inflatable implants can be adjusted to create a natural-looking breast shape.
Combination of both: The third type of breast reconstruction surgery is a combination of both flaps and implants. This type of surgery is often performed when there is not enough skin or tissue to create a new breast using only flaps surgery.
In this type of surgery, the surgeon will use skin, fat, and muscle from another part of your body to create a new breast. The surgeon will then place an implant in the breast pocket to add volume and shape to the new breast.