Illinois/Chicago Area Plastic Surgery Procedures:
Breast Reconstruction

Before and After Set #1

Women who are advised by their breast surgeon/surgical oncologist to undergo a complete mastectomy (often for larger or recurrent cancers, or widespread pre-invasive lesions) have several options for immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. The two main choices involve placement of implants (expander/implant reconstruction) or using the patient's own tissue (autogenous reconstruction) to form a new breast mound, followed by nipple-areolar reconstruction, if desired. Occasionally a combination of these general approaches is employed, and lifting/reduction techniques are often performed on the opposite breast to achieve symmetry.

Staged "implant/expander reconstruction" usually consists of placing a relatively deflated tissue expander beneath the pectoralis muscle of the chest (which lies underneath the breast) at the time of mastectomy. This is then serially expanded in the office with saline injections via a magnetic port over a period of several weeks. Later, when the patient/physician decides the size is appropriate, the expander is exchanged for a softer, permanent implant at a second procedure.

One of Lake Forest Plastic Surgery's areas of specialization is "autogenous tissue reconstruction" using the patient's own tissues, usually by way of a TRAM rotation flap. In this procedure, a majority of the lower abdominal tissue (if redundant) can be elevated with an expendable underlying muscle, from which it gets its blood supply, and rotated into the chest wall defect to create a soft, natural breast mound. This circumvents the long-term risks of implants, and is ideal for many younger and/or healthier women who can tolerate the procedure.

For more information about breast reconstruction options (including latissimus dorsi/back muscle rotation over implants), please see the American Society of Plastic Surgery website.

Contact our office today to schedule your private consultation. We encourage you to click here for your printable certificate good for $50 off your surgical consultation.

(Link reference used with permission from the ASPS; our approach to certain problems may differ from those described by the ASPS.)