Breast Reconstruction Atlanta

Am I An Ideal Candidate For Breast Reconstruction Surgery In Atlanta?

Breast reconstruction has become especially valuable and helpful to women who have lost one or both breasts to cancer and feel that they no longer have control of their body. They may have a sense that they are damaged, incomplete, or even undesirable after their mastectomy, and they may feel self-conscious about their overall femininity. For these women, having a reconstructed breast is more appealing than wearing a prosthetic device to fill out an empty bra cup since breast reconstruction can restore the normal shape of a woman’s breast.

Breast reconstruction should be an option to all patients who have suffered from breast cancer; unfortunately, statistics show that only 35% of women with mastectomies from breast cancer undergo reconstructive breast surgery. In most cases, the reason is that many women are unaware of the breast reconstruction options available to them and to change this, several states have begun passing legislation that requires women diagnosed with breast cancer to be referred to a breast reconstruction surgeon so they can be informed of their choices and alternatives. When a breast cancer patient is educated about breast reconstruction possibilities prior to a mastectomy, they can make a better-informed decision before surgery.

What Are My Breast Reconstruction Options?

Breast reconstruction patients in Atlanta have the choice of undergoing reconstructive surgery at the same time as their mastectomy or opting for delayed reconstruction, which involves a second operation to reconstruct the missing breast tissue after recovery from the mastectomy is complete. For many women, breast reconstruction represents the conclusion of their breast cancer battle, and they want to pursue reconstruction as soon as possible and decide to begin the process at the same time they have their mastectomy surgery. Others choose to concentrate first on the cancer treatment itself before proceeding with reconstruction, and the decision will be based on the extent of your cancer and whether or not radiation therapy is planned after your mastectomy.

There are several ways to reconstruct the breast. Our breast reconstruction surgeons will work together with you to decide which method is ideal. A breast reconstruction is usually a sequence of operations that involves two and sometimes three stages.

Two of the more common techniques used for breast reconstruction include:

Autologous Tissue Flap:

This technique can reconstruct a natural-looking breast by taking skin, muscle, and fat from another area of the body and transferring it to the breast. Typical donor areas include the midsection, buttocks, and upper back. Tissue flap surgery is a complex procedure that will affect the appearance of both the donor site and the recipient site – although the texture of the reconstructed breasts is more natural-looking than with breast implants.

Breast Implants:

Patients who do not want additional scars or the risks that may occur from having surgery on other areas of their body often choose to have implants used for their breast reconstruction. This procedure is the most common technique for breast reconstruction surgery by combining skin expansion with implant placement. Your breast surgeon will first insert a tissue (balloon) expander beneath the skin and chest muscle where the reconstructed breast will be located. A saline (salt water) solution is then injected into the expander through a tiny valve beneath the skin that will expand the overlying tissue and skin over a few weeks or months, creating enough room for regular implant placement. The nipple and areola are then reconstructed at a later date using your own tissue.