Breast cancer has become a common health concern in recent times. A breast reconstruction surgery is a procedure to reshape your breasts after a mastectomy following breast cancer. The amount of reconstruction depends on mastectomy and the size of your tumour.Â
Are you about to undergo breast reconstruction surgery? Then, read this article to get a better understanding of this surgery.
Breast reconstruction is a method commonly adopted by women who have undergone surgery in order to treat breast cancer. Surgical procedures like mastectomy or lumpectomy are mandatory for treating breast cancer and can affect the breast size. Breast reconstruction can be mandatory after this. There can be multiple breast reconstruction techniques.
Breast reconstruction most frequently follows an operation to treat or prevent breast cancer. Sometimes, it is used by practitioners to reconstruct damaged or missing tissue and remodel breasts. They might carry out this procedure in order to regain symmetry, and by doing so, they ensure that both breasts are the same size and form. Additionally, medical professionals also repair breast tissue caused by congenital anomalies (birth defects).
There can be more than one surgery type for breast reconstruction. It depends on the severity of your cancer. Here are the different types of breast reconstruction.
This is the most popular type of breast reconstruction. The surgeon takes tissues from your body, which are then used to form a breast. Usually, the tissues are procured from your lower abdomen (belly). In other cases, surgeons also consider tissues from the thigh, back or bottom. They remove skin, fat, muscles and blood vessels from these body parts to form a new breast.
This tissue is a flap. Flap reconstruction is often considered the best type of surgery when it comes to breast reconstruction. Here are the types of flap reconstruction.
Benefits
Tissue flaps look and feel more natural
You can keep more strength in your abdomen
Success Rate of this Surgery
The success rate of this type is approximately 91% to 99%.
Cost of Surgery
The approximate cost of flap repair surgery is around ₹ 30,000 to ₹ 1,00,000.
This type of surgery requires the surgeons to use saline or silicone implants to recreate breast tissue. Surgeons also use a combination of implants and tissue from your body for this procedure. One can also do a mastectomy alongside this procedure. Here are the types of implant reconstruction.
Patients who undergo lumpectomy are likely to benefit from oncoplastic reconstruction. Your oncologic breast surgeon will determine if you are capable of undergoing breast conservation. You might require radiation when surgeons conduct a lumpectomy.
Surgeons use breast reduction techniques while conducting a lumpectomy while competing with oncoplastic reconstruction surgery. A breast reduction or breast lift allows the surgeons to fill in the defect created by the lumpectomy.
It also helps them to improve their breast shape. You might require a breast lift on the other breast to maintain a shape consistency.
Breast reconstruction surgery is a complicated one, and it can cause some risks and side effects. While some of these are mild, others can seriously affect your health.
Here are the common risk factors you can face.
Now that you know what breast reconstruction is, you must know more about the ways to prepare for this surgery. If surgeons have selected this procedure, you have recently undergone a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
Moreover, if you are recovering from breast cancer, you might also require chemotherapy or radiation before breast reconstruction surgery.
To know about the preparations, you will have to seek a professional medical practitioner for a comprehensive exam. They might measure and photograph your breasts. You will have to discuss your family medical history, health, medications and details of previous surgeries with your surgeon. They might ask you to stop taking any medicines before the surgery.
A breast reconstruction surgery is performed in a hospital. You will receive general anaesthesia during the procedure, which will help you avoid feeling surgical pain. Surgeons will start the surgery once you receive the anaesthesia.
They will place the implant in or under your chest if you undergo an implant reconstruction procedure. On the other hand, if you are having a flap procedure, they will take tissues from one part of your body and then use the same for recreating a new breast.
Often, surgeons might insert a drain, like a thin tube, under your skin. The end of this tube will stick out of your chest. It will help to drain fluid and blood while you recover from this surgical procedure. Surgeons will remove these tubes once you recover and do not need these anymore.
After breast reconstruction surgery is over, you will need some time to recover before returning to your original routine. Surgeons usually suggest patients stay in the hospital for about a week. During this time, the breasts will heal as suggested by the doctors. They might suggest surgical bras initially to reduce breast swelling.
Once you successfully recover after a week, you will be discharged, and the doctors and nurses will provide detailed instructions on the right ways to look after your body.
Moreover, you will also receive tips on the ways to manage pain after surgery. They might suggest prescription or over-the-counter pain medication to manage pain.
You can call the doctor if:
The alternative to breast reconstruction surgery is the use of a prosthesis.
A typical breast reconstruction surgery in India typically exceeds ₹ 80,000 and it usually ranges between ₹ 100,000 – ₹ 300,000.
Now that you know the meaning of breast reconstruction, you must be curious to know its benefits. Some of them are listed below.
Patients generally can return to their usual lifestyles within 6-8 weeks of the surgery. However, the recovery time is much shorter if the surgery includes implants without flaps. It might take up to 8 weeks for the swelling to go away.
On the other hand, your tissues can take almost 1-2 years to heal and fade the scars. You need to stay in constant touch with your surgeon to understand when you can return to a normal routine.
Therefore, as this article pointed out, breast reconstruction surgery can be complicated. It mainly helps you recover from breast cancer and bring back the original shape of your breasts. You need to be careful while recovering from this surgery and take consultations with the doctor regarding any complications.