Breast Reconstruction | Tucson, AZ

Breast reconstruction is a series of surgical procedures aimed at restoring your breastnafter surgery for cancer or cancer prevention. It is performed by a plastic surgeon andncomes in a variety of surgical forms.nThe information below outlines the types of reconstruction, risks and benefits of each,nand the pros and cons for each type of procedure to help you understand what might benbest for you and what you should discuss with your surgeon

Most women are candidates for some form of breast reconstruction. Our goal as plasticnsurgeons is to recreate a breast mound that is similar to your native breast. There arenmultiple ways to do so, but the overall goal is for you to have as natural a breast asnpossible and be balanced and symmetric in your clothing.nBreast reconstruction is for three different categories of women:n1. Those having removal of their breast due to cancer (mastectomy)n2. Those having removal of a portion of their breast for cancer (lumpectomy ornpartial mastectomy)n3. Those having removal of their breasts for preventive purposes (prophylacticnmastectomy) usually due to a genetic mutation making them at higher risk fornbreast cancer (BRCA-1 and BRCA-2)nReconstruction of your breast can often be done at the time of mastectomy, but otherntimes reconstruction may have to be performed at a later time because of the need fornother therapies such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy or due to patient preference.

No. The reasons to have or not have reconstruction are different for every patient. Somenwomen choose not to have additional surgery. For these women, there are options fornprostheses to wear in a bra to provide the appearance of a breast. Other women neednadditional therapy that may prevent them from having reconstruction, while some womennare unable to decide what type of reconstruction to have.nScott & White Healthcare: Breast Reconstruction | 2nRemember: You have the choice to have reconstruction at any time in the future andnshould not feel pressured to make a decision

It’s often possible to have reconstruction at the time your breast tissue is removed, in anprocedure called immediate reconstruction. In this case, the breast tissue is removednalong with the circle around your nipple (the areola). This option often provides thenbenefit of saving some of your natural breast skin.nOtherwise, reconstruction can be done at a later date, in a procedure called delayednreconstruction. Often this option is selected in order to allow time for chemotherapy ornradiation therapy or in the event that you choose not to have immediate reconstruction.nHere, often the majority of your breast skin is removed at the time of mastectomy.

First, our goal for your breast reconstruction is to be symmetric in clothing (with your branon). You will always have some form of scar on your breast (possibly more than one) andnscars elsewhere on your body, depending on the choice for reconstruction.nThe process of reconstruction usually takes six months to a year to complete. The firstnsurgery is usually the longest and most difficult. The second surgery, usually about threenmonths after the first, is to improve breast symmetry.nThe last steps in breast reconstruction are creation of a nipple and the areola, if younchoose. Both of these procedures are done later and usually in the clinic about six monthsnand nine months, respectively, after your first surgery. In most cases, your reconstructednbreasts will have some pressure sensation eventually, but there may be areas ofnpermanent numbness; erogenous sensation of the nipples cannot be restored.nThere are factors that determine which type of reconstruction is best for you.nuf0a7 type and stage of cancernuf0a7 body size and shapenuf0a7 goals for reconstructionnuf0a7 need for additional therapynuf0a7 current health statusnuf0a7 prior surgeriesnThere are three options for breast reconstruction:n1. Implantsn2. Your own tissuen3. Combination of implants and your own tissue