Does breast reconstruction interfere with cancer treatment Breast reconstruction does not limit the type of surgery used for mastectomy. If the reconstructed breast originates from autologous tissue, it will not interfere with radiotherapy, chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. It does not interfere with post-operative review. Recurrent tumors can be detected in a timely manner through regular physical examinations and aids such as mammograms, ultrasound or MRI. However, if silicone prosthesis is chosen, it may be deformed by radiotherapy. Therefore, autologous tissue transplantation or second-stage prosthetic breast reconstruction is generally chosen for patients who are expected to need post-operative radiotherapy. How the procedure of breast reconstruction with prosthesis works If the amount of tissue in the chest is sufficient, breast prosthesis can be placed directly to reconstruct the breast. Otherwise, tissue expansion is required for placement. This means that the reconstruction process is performed in two stages. In the first stage, a soft tissue expander is placed, and the expansion begins 2 to 4 weeks after surgery with water injection, and the breast may feel compressed after each injection. The second stage is performed 4 to 6 weeks after the completion of the water injection and expansion, where the expander is removed and a permanent breast implant is placed.
The expander is removed and a permanent breast implant is placed. How the procedure of autologous breast reconstruction is performed A flap with blood vessels is made from the lower abdomen or back, transferred to the breast and shaped into a breast, and the abdomen or back donor area is directly sutured. Sometimes it is necessary to anastomose the blood vessels of the lower abdomen with those of the breast under a microscope in order to strengthen the blood supply of the flap. The surgery takes about 2 to 4 hours and the hospital stay is about 2 weeks. Does the breast need to be trimmed in order to be symmetrical with the reconstructed breast In general, the reconstructed breast can be symmetrical with the healthy breast. In rare cases such as very saggy breasts, hypoplastic breasts, small or abnormally large breasts, etc., the healthy breast will be reshaped according to the patient’s request. How to reconstruct the nipple and areola It can be done at the same time as the breast reconstruction or at any time after the breast reconstruction surgery. The procedure can be done on an outpatient basis and does not require hospitalization. The nipple can be reconstructed with a local flap, and the areola can be darkened by tattooing with a skin graft from another area of choice. Does breast reconstruction leave a new scar? In the case of reconstruction with a lower abdominal or back muscle flap, a horizontal scar is left on the underside of the abdomen or back after surgery, which can be covered by undergarments. The scar will be red for 3 to 6 months after surgery and then slowly become less visible. The scar formation can be inhibited by topical application of a silicone gel patch. Individuals with keloid body may have scar proliferation after surgery, which can be suppressed by radiotherapy. What is the discomfort after surgery There will be pain in the chest (and abdomen/back) after surgery. It is due to surgery. The use of pain medication or the application of epidural pain relief methods can be effective in relieving post-operative pain. After surgery, to prevent excessive tension on the abdomen, it is necessary to keep the abdomen flexed or the upper limbs braked, which some people will not be used to. In general, you can gradually start to get out of bed on the 4th day after surgery.