Important Things You Need to Know about Breast Reconstruction
One of the most fulfilling surgical procedures today is breast reconstruction. The procedure reconstructs a woman’s breast that has been removed because of cancer and some other diseases. Newer medical techniques and better medical devices have greatly helped surgeons in creating breasts that look naturally similar with the real ones.
Breast reconstruction is possible right after a mastectomy. This way, a patient will no longer have the horror of seeing herself on the mirror with no breast at all. However, keep in mind that breast reduction after a mastectomy is a difficult procedure. It is important that you discuss this matter properly with your doctor.
Breast Reconstruction- Possible Candidate
Generally, the medically appropriate candidates for a breast reconstruction procedure are mostly mastectomy patients. But the best candidates are women whose cancer has been totally eliminated by mastectomy.
But there are valid reasons why patients should wait. In fact, a lot of women are not that comfortable contemplating all the possible options while they are still having a hard time coping with their diagnosis of cancer. Some women, additionally, do not want to consider breast reconstruction at all. Furthermore, there are also some patients who are asked to wait, especially if the breast is rebuilt in a complicated procedure. Likewise, women are advised to wait if they are smokers, or have health conditions like high blood pressure and obesity.
Does the surgery carry risks?
As with any other types of surgery, risks are inevitable. In this case, breast reconstruction also experience problems like fluid collection, bleeding, excessive scar tissue, and some patients have a hard time responding with anaesthesia. Before the surgery, smokers are advised that the nicotine could delay the healing process, thus resulting to prolonged recovery and conspicuous scars.
If implants are used, there are possibilities of infections to develop, normally on the first two weeks after the surgery. While some patients are successfully treated, there are also cases where implants are removed for some months and then replaced by another implant once the infection clears.
One common problem is capsular contracture. This occurs where the scar surrounding the implant starts to tighten, which eventually causes the breasts to feel hard. However, this can be treated in different manners which include removal of the scar tissue, or even replacement of the breast implant.
Breast reconstruction does not interfere with radiation treatment or chemotherapy of the patient, in case the cancer recurs. Surgeons normally recommend continuous mammogram on both the remaining and the reconstructed breast. If the patient’s breast reconstruction is an implant, seeking for the services of a radiology centers is important, most especially if getting an x-ray of the breast that has been reconstructed with the implant.
Types of Implants for Breast Reconstruction
Breast implants are silicone shells that are filled with a salt-water solution or silicone gels. Since silicone gel-filled implants do not have enough information yet as to its safety, this type of implant is only available for women that are participating in approved studies.
The alternative, which is also the most commonly used type of breast implant are those saline-filled implants, those silicone shells that are filled with salt water.
Breast reconstruction has really helped a lot of woman gain their confidence back and undeniably, the surgery is indeed a fulfilment for women who already had mastectomy.
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