Breast reconstruction

Reconstructive breast surgery (reconstructive mammoplasty) is an operation to restore the breast after surgery or injury. A plastic surgeon performs such an operation on patients who have undergone a mastectomy (partial or complete removal of the breast) for breast cancer. Also, reconstructive mammoplasty can be recommended for a woman in case of congenital underdevelopment or in the absence of mammary glands.

An experienced plastic surgeon can perform reconstructive mammoplasty right after the breast has been removed. Getting under the operation of an oncosurgeon, a woman can undergo reconstructive plastic on the same day. If you want to get advice from a plastic surgeon and agree on such an operation, leave a request on the MedTour website.

Reconstructive plastic surgery for breast cancer

According to WHO statistics, a malignant tumor of the breast is the most common type of cancer among women. In the early stages, breast cancer responds well to treatment, but, as a rule, the disease makes itself felt at later stages of development. When the tumor grows in size, surgery in combination with other therapies remains the main treatment.

To recover completely, patients with breast cancer (BC) undergo a long course of treatment: several courses of chemotherapy, mastectomy, followed by psychological and physical rehabilitation.

The greatest discomfort occurs when the doctor cannot perform organ-preserving surgery. In this case, one or both mammary glands are removed completely to exclude recurrence.

If a mastectomy is still necessary for the treatment of breast cancer, the clinic’s specialists can offer an additional operation to restore the bust. Its essence lies in the fact that a woman lies on the operating table with her breast, and after all the surgical interventions, when the anesthesia departs, she wakes up with her breast. A woman does not see herself with an external defect (absence of a mammary gland). This approach provides patients with psychological comfort and significantly shortens the rehabilitation period, since the double operation takes place in one session.

Types of reconstructive mammoplasty

There are two types of breast reconstruction surgery:

• Delayed. First, the oncosurgeon removes the breast affected by the cancer. After some time, the plastic surgeon performs the restoration of the appearance of the breast.
• One-time. Surgeons remove the mammary gland from the patient and perform its restoration within the framework of one surgical intervention.

Stages of surgery for delayed mammoplasty

The delayed procedure to restore the shape and volume of the breasts follows the same principle as the standard plastic surgery to enlarge the mammary glands.

1. Before starting the operation, the doctor marks the contours of future incisions on the chest.
2. To put the patient in a state of general anesthesia, she is given an intravenous injection, after which she falls asleep.
3. The plastic surgeon makes an incision to prepare the pocket for the implant.
4. The doctor installs the implant, and then carefully sews up the pocket. In this case, surgical drainage is not required.
5. On the operating table, a compression garment is put on the patient. It fixes the breast with the implant in one position to avoid displacement.
6. The specialist takes the woman out of the state of anesthesia and she is sent to the ward to recuperate.

The operation time is approximately 1.5 hours. The whole procedure is carried out under the strict supervision of medical personnel with the connection of monitoring devices.

How does one-stage breast reconstruction work

One-step reconstruction begins during a mastectomy operation — removal of the entire breast or its individual tissues. Two specialists work with the patient at once: plastic and oncosurgeon (sometimes 1 doctor can do this).

Installation of a breast endoprosthesis includes all stages of plastic surgery for breast augmentation.

Breast reconstruction techniques

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To restore the appearance of the breast after radical treatment of breast cancer, doctors use 3 main reconstruction techniques:

• With the help of endoprostheses (expander-implant);
• Using the patient’s own tissues (TRAM flap);
• Combined method (thoracodorsal flap).

Expander implant

The reconstruction method consists in the fact that the doctor installs an expander under the large muscle of the patient’s chest — a special tissue expander. It allows, over time, to install a permanent implant after a radical mastectomy, even with a deficiency of the skin in the area of ​​the operated breast. Through a special hole, this prosthesis is gradually filled with saline, due to which the skin is gently stretched.
After 2-6 months, the doctor removes the expander and installs the implant in its place. To achieve the symmetry and desired volume of the breasts, the plastic surgeon can simultaneously correct the second breast with an implant.

TRAM flap

For breast reconstruction, the surgeon uses only the patient’s own tissue. Most often, a flap with subcutaneous fat from the abdomen is used. The blood vessels and nerve fibers of the graft are connected to the vessels and nerves in the patient’s chest. From these tissues, the doctor forms a new mammary gland, which retains its natural sensitivity and softness.

Breast surgery with a TRAM flap is the most difficult, but it allows you to achieve the most natural looking breasts. In addition, it will take time for the scars on the abdomen to heal.

Thoracodorsal flap

This technique is used by doctors when a patient wants to carry out breast reconstruction in one stage. For this, the plastic surgeon installs the implant immediately after the mastectomy. In case of skin deficiency, the flap is taken from the back area.

The breast reconstruction method using a thoracodorsal flap allows you to quickly achieve a good result in restoring the appearance of the bust. But rehabilitation is required for the healing of the skin on the back.

How much does breast reconstructive surgery cost

The cost of breast reconstruction surgery will depend on the amount of work done by the plastic surgeon and the complexity of the procedure. The main parameters that determine the price of breast reconstruction:

• Choosing a clinic (domestic, foreign, public or private);
• The status of a plastic surgeon (his experience, mastery of techniques, achievements in medicine, certificates, etc.);
• Operation technique (the presence of an implant and access for its introduction, the need to use donor tissue from another part of the body);
• Brand and quality of implants;
• The need to correct the second breast;
• The whole range of related medical services (hospital care, medicines, dressings).

How much will the breast reconstruction cost in the end — doctors determine individually in each case. Many modern clinics offer a package of medical services, which includes patient diagnostics, consultation with a plastic surgeon with the choice of a reconstruction method, implants, and postoperative observation.

The maximum cost for breast reconstruction can be as high as $40 000 in the most difficult cases. The average cost of breast reconstruction surgery in foreign clinics will be $9 500.

Examples of the minimum cost of surgical breast reconstruction in hospitals in different countries:

• Ukraine — from $2 500;
• Turkey — from $2 800;
• Czech Republic, Poland — from $3 000;
• Italy, Spain — from $4 500;
• Israel — from $6 000.

To save time and agree on a package medical service – leave a request on the MedTour website. Our coordinating doctor will help you with choosing a clinic and preparing all the necessary documents for treatment in any country in the world.

Contraindications for breast plastic surgery

Breast plastic surgery is an invasive operation that involves putting the patient into a state of anesthesia. The presence of infectious and chronic diseases require preliminary correction of the patient’s condition or may even cause withdrawal from the operation. Therefore, as with any surgical intervention, preliminary consultation with narrowly specialized specialists is necessary.

One of the pathologies identified in the patient may become a contraindication to breast plastic surgery:

• Disease of the cardiovascular system;
• Hepatitis B or C;
• Type 2 diabetes;
• Autoimmune disease;
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• Local inflammation in the area of potential surgical intervention.

In some cases, it is more expedient for the patient to postpone breast reconstruction for a more favorable period for this procedure. The most obvious reason for delayed breast surgery is pregnancy.

To get a preliminary consultation on breast reconstruction, leave a request on the MedTour website. The coordinating doctor will be able to inform you about all possible options for breast plastic surgery after a radical mastectomy.

Frequently asked questions about breast reconstruction

When may women need breast reconstructive surgery?

Women often turn to a plastic surgeon when it comes to the appearance of the mammary glands. Most often, breast reconstruction is needed:

• After complete or partial breast removal in the treatment of cancer;
• After injuries due to an accident or fire;
• With congenital underdevelopment of the mammary glands;
• If there is pronounced asymmetry (one breast is significantly smaller than the other).

How does a doctor perform breast reconstruction?

A plastic surgeon performs breast reconstruction using implants and / or the patient’s own tissues. For adult women, silicone or salt endoprosthesis are most often used.

Is it safe to use implants after breast cancer treatment?

Many studies have shown that breast surgery performed after mastectomy does not affect the likelihood of recurrence. The use of breast implants does not diminish the effectiveness of cancer therapy.

If you have any questions about breast reconstructive plastic surgery – leave a message on the MedTour website. The coordinating doctor will advise you and help you choose a clinic anywhere in the world.