Subcutaneous Breast Reconstruction
Subcutaneous Breast Reconstruction
Having a mastectomy can be a very serious adjustment for women both physically and emotionally. There are many alternatives for breast reconstruction surgery to help restore the breasts to a more natural appearance. Cosmetic surgeons in Livingston have many options available to them including subcutaneous breast reconstruction. Basically it is an operation which is performed in cases where there are low grade benign or cancerous conditions. The main attribute of this type of cosmetic surgery is that it preserves the entire area of skin around the nipple and areola. This procedure not only makes the breast reconstruction easier it is also more aesthetically appealing.
What is the procedure like?
A subcutaneous mastectomy will be performed and breast tissue will be removed. However, in order to properly reform or reconstruct a breast, all of the overlying skin, areola and the nipple are preserved. In most cases, the lymph nodes which are adjacent, pectoralis minor and major are not removed. Most of the time it is performed on women who are deemed to be at great risk of developing breast cancer. A plastic surgeon will help reconstruct the breasts and the implant will be placed into the cavity so that the normal contour of the breast will be retained.
Why Choose Subcutaneous Mastectomy?
The primary reason women choose subcutaneous breast reconstruction is for aesthetic purposes. In several studies, women who had a subcutaneous mastectomy were very pleased with the outcomes. For those who had flap reconstruction it was apparent that they required less secondary surgeries or procedures as well as having an improved aesthetic outcome. Many doctors argue that leaving too much tissue behind as occurs in a subcutaneous mastectomy, can leave them open to developing cancer later on. For this reason the subcutaneous mastectomy is not performed as often as some of the simple mastectomies are. However, one of the primary reasons that a surgeon will recommend this procedure is to remove cancerous tissue from the area of the breast without the woman having to go through a total mastectomy.
How is it performed?
When a subcutaneous mastectomy, or a nipple sparing mastectomy is performed, an incision is made around the areola so that the nipple and the areola are both preserved. The breast tissue is removed from around the areola. The goal is to remove any tissue that is cancerous or could potentially be cancerous. It is typically at least 2 centimeters away from the areola and the tissues surrounding the area. It is likely that the patient will have to remain in the hospital from 1 to 3 days. The surgical procedure is performed using general anesthesia.
What is breast reconstruction?
Most of the time, a breast reconstruction is performed at the same time as a mastectomy. This allows the patient to fully return to their lives virtually uninterrupted. In most cases, there is not very much visible proof that the woman has undergone breast reconstruction or had a mastectomy. It is important that the effective treatment of cancer be the primary concern. But a simple or partial mastectomy can be helped significantly by performing a breast reconstruction. It can be done at the same time as the mastectomy or it can be performed later when the patient is ready. Breast reconstruction surgery is a very versatile method of dealing with having a mastectomy and there are many different options available depending on what the goal of the patient is. Any type of breast modification should be made in order to best benefit the patient and adequately meet their needs. In many types of breast reconstructions skin or fat from another part of the body will be used to make the desired modifications.
What is the procedure like?
A subcutaneous mastectomy will be performed and breast tissue will be removed. However, in order to properly reform or reconstruct a breast, all of the overlying skin, areola and the nipple are preserved. In most cases, the lymph nodes which are adjacent, pectoralis minor and major are not removed. Most of the time it is performed on women who are deemed to be at great risk of developing breast cancer. A plastic surgeon will help reconstruct the breasts and the implant will be placed into the cavity so that the normal contour of the breast will be retained.
Why Choose Subcutaneous Mastectomy?
The primary reason women choose subcutaneous breast reconstruction is for aesthetic purposes. In several studies, women who had a subcutaneous mastectomy were very pleased with the outcomes. For those who had flap reconstruction it was apparent that they required less secondary surgeries or procedures as well as having an improved aesthetic outcome. Many doctors argue that leaving too much tissue behind as occurs in a subcutaneous mastectomy, can leave them open to developing cancer later on. For this reason the subcutaneous mastectomy is not performed as often as some of the simple mastectomies are. However, one of the primary reasons that a surgeon will recommend this procedure is to remove cancerous tissue from the area of the breast without the woman having to go through a total mastectomy.
How is it performed?
When a subcutaneous mastectomy, or a nipple sparing mastectomy is performed, an incision is made around the areola so that the nipple and the areola are both preserved. The breast tissue is removed from around the areola. The goal is to remove any tissue that is cancerous or could potentially be cancerous. It is typically at least 2 centimeters away from the areola and the tissues surrounding the area. It is likely that the patient will have to remain in the hospital from 1 to 3 days. The surgical procedure is performed using general anesthesia.
What is breast reconstruction?
Most of the time, a breast reconstruction is performed at the same time as a mastectomy. This allows the patient to fully return to their lives virtually uninterrupted. In most cases, there is not very much visible proof that the woman has undergone breast reconstruction or had a mastectomy. It is important that the effective treatment of cancer be the primary concern. But a simple or partial mastectomy can be helped significantly by performing a breast reconstruction. It can be done at the same time as the mastectomy or it can be performed later when the patient is ready. Breast reconstruction surgery is a very versatile method of dealing with having a mastectomy and there are many different options available depending on what the goal of the patient is. Any type of breast modification should be made in order to best benefit the patient and adequately meet their needs. In many types of breast reconstructions skin or fat from another part of the body will be used to make the desired modifications.