The goal of breast reconstruction is to restore one or both breasts to near normal shape, appearance, symmetry and size following a mastectomy, lumpectomy or surgery for correction of a congenital deformity. Breast reconstruction is a process, with the final result aimed at lessening the physical and emotional impact of cancer treatment or a congenital deformity.
The decision to have breast reconstruction surgery is extremely personal. You will have to decide if reconstruction is right for you and if the risk and potential complications are acceptable.
Breast reconstruction often involves multiple procedures performed in stages either at the time of the mastectomy or at a later date. Breast reconstruction generally falls into two categories: Implant-based reconstruction or autologous tissue reconstruction. Implant-based reconstruction relies on breast implants to help form a new breast mound. Tissue autologous reconstruction uses the patients own tissue from another part of the body to form a new breast mound.
Breast reconstruction may also involve surgery to the opposite breast to achieve symmetry. Often times a breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation may be recommended to improve symmetry and proportion.
Breast reconstruction has evolved over the past 10 to 15 years. With the incorporation of new implants, new techniques and supportive materials such as allografts and xenografts, the final result often improves one’s quality of life and sense of recovery.
Types of Reconstruction
There are many different techniques available for breast reconstruction. The right operation for you will depend on the type of breast cancer, recommended treatment, aesthetic goals, current health status and body type.
Most often, breast reconstruction is begun immediately, but treatment protocols may require reconstruction in a delayed setting. The option of delaying reconstruction allows one to complete their medical treatment (chemotherapy or radiation therapy) and allows one to optimize their overall health to reduce their risk for complications. Immediate reconstruction offers the advantage of improved aesthetic outcomes, fewer surgical procedures and psychologic benefits.
Implant-based reconstruction may be possible if there is sufficient tissue on the chest wall to cover and support the implant. If not, the patient may be candidate for a flap procedure (also known as autologous tissue reconstruction). The most common of the autologous tissue techniques involves transferring tissue from the abdomen to create a breast mound. As an alternative some patients may be a candidate for a Latissimus Dorsi Myocutaneous flap reconstruction which involves the transfer of tissue from the back to the anterior chest to help create a breast mound. There are also a number of more complicated reconstructions that rely on tissues from other parts of the body.
Implant-based reconstruction is most often performed in stages with the placement of a tissue expander at the time of the mastectomy. Under ideal conditions the patient may also be a candidate to undergo direct to implant reconstruction. Implant-based reconstruction currently uses extracellular matrix (derived from human dermis or ovine submucosa) to provide additional soft tissue coverage and support.
Your Consultation
During your breast reconstruction consultation your surgeon will review your medical history, perform a physical examination, and discuss with you your treatment options and recommendations. He will also discuss with you any risk and potential complications and how to reduce your risk in preparation for surgery. Please be prepared to discuss your surgical goals, medical history, current medications, and previous surgeries. Feel free to ask questions and consider the consultation an opportunity to learn as much as possible about your reconstruction. You will also be given information regarding breast reconstruction and breast implants to allow you to make an informed decision.
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Before & After Gallery
Askren | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 50. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer. Treatment Option: Right breast reconstruction revision with staged expander-implant reconstruction and Alloderm. Patient also had fat grafts to upper pole on right breast. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Natrelle style 20, round, smooth, silicone gel implant 400 cc.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 50. Diagnosis: Left breast cancer. Treatment Option: Simple mastectomy of left breast with immediate staged latissmus dorsi flap and expander-implant reconstruction. Patient also chose a right breast augmentation for symmetry. Nipple and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction.
Dr. Askren | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 36. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer. Treatment Option: Bilateral Mastectomy with staged expander-implant reconstruction and Alloderm. Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Natrelle style 45, round, smooth, silicone gel implants 800cc.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 68. Diagnosis: Ductal carcinoma in-situ left breast cancer. Treatment Option: Simple mastectomy left breast with sentinel nodes and immediate expander-implant reconstruction. Patient also chose to undergo a right breast mastopexy for symmetry. Left nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, moderate plus 550 cc (left).
Dr. Askren | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 44. Diagnosis: Left breast cancer. Treatment Option: Left breast mastectomy with staged expander-implant reconstruction and Alloderm. Patient also chose a right breast augmentation for symmetry. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Natrelle style 45, round, smooth, silicone gel implant 460cc (left) and Natrelle Style 15 silicone implant 286cc (right).
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 53. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer. Treatment Option: Bilateral mastectomy with delayed staged expander-implant reconstruction and Alloderm. Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, round, high profile, silicone 450 cc bilateral.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 53. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer; Treatment Option: Simple mastectomy of right breast with immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction with Acellular dermal allograft. Patient also chose a left breast augmentation for symmetry. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor smooth, high profile saline implant 340 cc.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 42. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer. Treatment Option: Simple bilateral mastectomy with immediate expander-implant and acellular dermal allograft. Patient also had autologus fat grafting to right and left breast. Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, round, high profile silicone implant 550 cc bilateral.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 63. Diagnosis: Left breast cancer. Treatment Option: Simple bilateral mastectomy with immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction. Patient also chose to place an implant on the right side for symmetry. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, high profile silicone implant 450 cc.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 47. Diagnosis: Left breast cancer. Treatment Option: Simple mastectomy of left breast with immediate staged latissmus dorsi flap and expander-implant reconstruction. Patient had implants so she also chose a right implant exchange for symmetry. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, round, high-profile silicone 600cc (left) and Mentor moderate plus profile silicone 400 cc (right).
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 62. Diagnosis: Bilateral breast cancer. Treatment Option: Right modified radical mastectomy and simple left mastectomy and sentinel node biopsy with immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction with acellular dermal allograft. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, round moderate profile saline implants filled to 520 cc on each side.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 37. Diagnosis: Left breast cancer. Treatment Option: Bilateral Mastectomies with immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction. Patient also chose to have an excision of excess skin and subcutaneous tissue of the right and left lateral chest wall. Nipple and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, round, high-profile silicone gel 700cc (right) and 650cc (left).
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 36. Diagnosis: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma right breast. Treatment Option: Simple Mastectomy Bilateral with Immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction with an Alloderm graft. Implant: 460-550cc Mentor High Profile smooth, round, filled to 550 cc on each side. Patient chose to not have the nipple reconstruction and completed the reconstruction with Micropigmentation. Post-op photos: 7 months.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 20. Diagnosis: Bilateral Tuberous Breast Deformity more prominent on right causing significant breast asymmetry. Pre-op bra size: 36A and 36B. Treatment Option: Right Breast Augmentation with Tissue Expander and Saline Implant and Left Breast Augmentation with Saline Implant for Symmetry. Implant: Mentor Moderate Plus Profile, smooth, round with fill range from 375-450cc filled to 425cc (right) and Mentor Moderate Plus Profile, smooth, round with fill range from 325-390cc filled to 350 cc. (left). Approach: Peri-Areolar. Location: sub-muscular. Post-op bra size: 36C.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 34. Diagnosis: Bilateral Ductal Carcinoma. Treatment Option: Simple Mastectomy with Immediate Staged Reconstruction with Latissimus Flap and Tissue Expanders. Implant: 460-550cc Mentor High Profile, smooth, round filled to 550cc bilaterally. Nipple reconstruction and Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Post-op photos: 12 months.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 46. Diagnosis: Ductal carcinoma in-situ on right and Nodular Densitities on left. Treatment Option: Bilateral mastectomies with immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction. Implant: Mentor High Profile smooth, round, filled to 575 cc (right) and 675 cc (left). Nipple reconstruction and Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Post-op photos: 12 months.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 41. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer. Treatment Option: Right Mastectomy w/ immediate staged expander-implant reconstruction. Patientt also chose left breast augmentation for symmetry. Implant: 460-550cc Mentor High Profile smooth, round, filled to 525cc. (right). 225-270cc Mentor Moderate Profile smooth, round filled to 250cc (left). Nipple reconstruction / Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Post-op photos: 9 months.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 55. Diagnosis: Right breast cancer. Treatment Option: Simple right breast mastectomy with immediate staged expander-implant and allograft. Patient also chose a left breast augmentation for symmetry. Nipple reconstruction and micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Implant: Mentor, smooth, high profile silicone gel implant 600 cc (right) and Mentor, smooth, round, moderate silicone 225 cc (left).
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 50. Diagnosis: Ductal Carcinoma In-situ left breast. Treatment Option: Simple Mastectomy with Immediate staged Latissimus Flap and expander-implant reconstruction with an Augmentation Mastopexy on right breast for symmetry. Implant: 150-220cc Mentor Moderate Profile smooth, round filled to 160cc (right). 310-370cc Mentor High Profile smooth, round, filled to 360cc (left). Nipple reconstruction and Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Post-op photos: 20 months.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 60. Diagnosis: Invasive Ductal Carcinoma left breast. Treatment Option: Modified Radical Mastectomy with Immediate Tram Flap Reconstruction. Patient also underwent Autologous fat grafting to left anterior chest. Nipple reconstruction and Micropigmentation completed the reconstruction. Post-op photos: 18 months.
Dr. Zuniga | Breast Reconstruction
Age: 14. Diagnosis: Congenital Hypoplasia of the left breast. Pre-op bra size: 38 A and 38 C. Treatment Option: Bilateral Augmentation of the left breast and a Bilateral mastopexy of the right breast. Implant: Mentor, smooth, round, moderate plus saline implant filled to 200 cc. Post-op bra size: 38C.
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