Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
in Chicago, IL
Restoring Confidence
Chicago Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy at Dr. Sameer Kapadia
Chicago plastic surgeon Dr. Sameer Kapadia specializes in helping women regain a sense of wholeness post-mastectomy. Whether you have had a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy, Dr. Kapadia’s meticulous approach focuses on recreating natural breasts in your ideal size, shape, and position.
Age is not a determining factor in your ability to have breast reconstruction surgery following mastectomy; however, good overall health is crucial for reconstructive surgery. Conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, or smoking may need addressing pre-surgery for optimal outcomes and smooth recovery. You can trust in Dr. Kapadia to provide personalized care for renewed confidence.
Reshaping Your Future
Breast Reconstruction Procedure Options
When discussing options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy Chicago plastic surgeon, Dr. Kapadia, will typically conduct it in stages and may use one of two main approaches. The selection depends on the presence of ample tissue on the chest wall to support an implant. Whichever method is chosen, coordination between your breast surgeon and plastic surgeon is vital for achieving optimal outcomes.
Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction
Implant-based breast reconstruction is a specialized technique commonly used post-mastectomy. It involves incorporating scaffolds or matrices placed inside the chest to provide support and coverage. This method, which can be combined with implants, enhances natural breast shape and reduces complications like capsular contracture. Ideal for patients lacking sufficient tissue post-mastectomy, implant-based breast reconstruction optimizes both aesthetic and safety aspects of breast reconstruction surgery.
Autologous Tissue Breast Reconstruction
Autologous tissue breast reconstruction provides a natural alternative to implants for women seeking a lifelike result post-mastectomy. Utilizing your own skin, fat, and occasionally muscle from areas like the abdomen, back, buttocks, or thighs, this procedure rebuilds the breast mound.
A "flap" of breast tissue is carefully extracted and either reattached to the chest with microsurgery (free flap) or transferred while maintaining its original blood supply (pedicle flap). The chosen technique depends on factors like available tissue and desired breast size. In some cases, breast implants may complement autologous tissue for added fullness.
Separate nipple and areola reconstruction add the final touches, though variations in tissue shape and texture are natural. Despite this, autologous-tissue breast reconstruction delivers a natural look and feel, restoring confidence and a sense of wholeness.
Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction
In this innovative approach, Dr. Kapadia utilizes a tissue expander — an inflatable saline implant —encased in a collagen sheet, securing it in front of the chest's pectoralis muscle. Compared to subpectoral placement, this method offers reduced pain and eliminates animation deformity, preventing implant movement with pectoralis muscle contraction. Depending on the patient, this procedure can also offer direct to implant prepectoral reconstruction.
Resensation After Mastectomy
Traditional breast reconstruction focuses on recreating the appearance of the breast. However, a newer technique called Resensation offers an additional benefit: restoring some feeling to the nipple area. This can significantly enhance a woman's sense of wholeness after a mastectomy.
Here's how Resensation works:
- Preserved Nipple: It's important to note that Resensation is only suitable for mastectomies where the nipple and some surrounding tissue (the nipple-areolar complex) are preserved.
- Nerve Transfer: During breast reconstruction surgery, Dr. Kapadia, a listed Resensation provider, can perform a special technique to reconnect severed nerves. He essentially bridges the gap between the remaining nerves in your chest wall and the nerves in the nipple area using a specialized graft.
- Regenerated Sensation: Over time, these reconnected nerves can regenerate, potentially restoring some degree of sensation to the nipple. This can include feeling touch, temperature, and even some pleasurable sensations.
Benefits of Resensation:
- Enhanced Wholeness: Regaining some feeling in the nipple area can significantly improve a woman's emotional well-being and sense of completeness after a mastectomy.
- Improved Sexual Function: Resensation may also lead to some restoration of sexual function and sensation in the breast area.
Considering Resensation:
If you're undergoing breast reconstruction surgery after a mastectomy, discuss Resensation with Dr. Kapadia. It's an innovative procedure that can offer a more complete restoration, both physically and emotionally.
Important Note:
While Resensation holds promise, it's still a relatively new technique. The degree of sensation restored can vary, and it may take time to see results. Dr. Kapadia can provide you with a realistic picture of what to expect and answer any questions you may have.
Restoring Breast Shape with Implants and Expanders
This method begins by utilizing a tissue expander to move excess skin and stretch the skin in preparation for the implant's placement. Initially, a balloon-like device, the tissue expander, is placed under the chest muscles and skin. Over weeks to months, Dr. Kapadia will inject more saline solution through a valve, increasing the size of the expander and stretching the skin to create a pocket for the future implant.
Following this, the expander may remain as the final implant or be substituted for a silicone or saline-filled implant. Eventually, a procedure is conducted to do reconstructive surgery on the nipples and areola. Not all patients require the tissue expansion stage, allowing for direct implant placement and potentially shorter completion timelines.
Empowering Choices
What is Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy?
At our practice in Chicago breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is a surgical procedure that aims to recreate the appearance of the breast(s) that were removed during a mastectomy. Mastectomy is a surgery performed as part of breast cancer treatment, and it can involve removing one breast (unilateral mastectomy) or one or both breasts (bilateral mastectomy).
Breast reconstruction offers both physical and emotional benefits. Here's a breakdown of some key benefits and considerations:
- Restored Appearance: Reconstruction helps recreate the shape, size, and position of the breast(s) to achieve a more symmetrical chest and improve body image.
- Psychological Well-Being: The emotional impact of breast cancer treatment and mastectomy can be significant. Reconstruction can help women feel more whole and confident in their bodies.
- Multiple Techniques: There are various surgical techniques available, using implants, tissue from other areas of your body (flap reconstruction), or a combination of both.
- Timing: Reconstruction can be done immediately following mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or at a later date (delayed reconstruction). The decision depends on factors like your overall health, cancer treatment plan, and personal preferences.
- Not for Everyone: Reconstruction is a personal choice, and not all women choose to undergo it. There are various factors to consider, and it's important to discuss the options with your doctor to determine if it's right for you.
If you're considering breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction is crucial. Dr. Kapadia can guide you through the different options, address your concerns, and help you make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and expectations.
A New Beginning
Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy Recovery and Aftercare
The recovery journey after breast reconstruction surgery varies based on the procedure and timing post-mastectomy. Hospital stays typically last one to six days. Patients may experience fatigue and soreness for one to two weeks, with full recovery expected in three to six weeks.
Compression garments aid healing and provide support for the reconstructed breast. Stitches are usually removed within one to ten days, and a surgical drain may be inserted temporarily under the breast skin to prevent fluid buildup. The surgical drain is typically removed within one to two weeks.
Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy Results
As the recovery journey unfolds, patients reach significant milestones. Around one month after your breast reconstruction process is complete, you can expect a reduction in post-procedure discomfort and swelling and begin to enjoy your breast’s rejuvenated contours. Strict adherence to the prescribed aftercare program is crucial for optimal results. By six weeks, the incisions will be significantly healed. At the three-month mark, you may be ready to consider nipple reconstruction, refining the initial results of your reconstruction. At this time, you can explore options like nipple sharing, skin grafting, skin flap techniques, or medical tattooing. Finally, at the one-year milestone, Dr. Kapadia will review your overall results. At this point, the incision lines will have faded significantly to blend better with the surrounding skin. Many women experience improvements in emotional well-being, marking a successful journey from major surgery to optimal recovery.
Your Breast Reconstruction Surgery After Mastectomy Consultation
As a board-certified plastic surgeon in Chicago, Dr. Kapadia is renowned for his exceptional communication skills, patient-centered approach, and leadership in his field. With multiple publications in medical literature, he specializes in breast, abdominal, and lower extremity reconstruction, employing cutting-edge techniques learned from industry pioneers. Dr. Kapadia offers a comprehensive range of options, including implant-based and autologous reconstruction, such as the DIEP flap. Located in Rosemont, Illinois, just 40 minutes from Chicago, he provides expert care for wounds resulting from cancer, trauma, or other conditions, utilizing advanced techniques to address defects across the body. Schedule your consultation today and take the first step toward restoration and rejuvenation.
Breast Reconstruction
Frequently Asked Questions
Breast reconstruction, like any surgery, carries inherent risks. These include general risks associated with anesthesia and surgery. Specific complications for implant-based reconstruction may include infection, implant leakage, shifting, or deflation. Autologous techniques carry the risk of fat necrosis, abdominal weakness, hernias, or mismatched tissue. Addressing these complications can require further procedures.
Sensation varies among patients and depends on the reconstruction method. If nerve reconstruction isn't performed, sensation may be reduced or absent. New techniques like the neurotized DIEP flap aim to restore sensation. Discuss your expectations with Dr. Kapadia to get a realistic understanding of the results you can expect to achieve.
Yes, nipple reconstruction can be considered around three months post-reconstruction. Options include nipple sharing, skin grafts, flaps, or medical tattooing.
