Overview of Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction Intervention Review

We realize that deciding whether or not patients will perform a breast reconstruction procedure is a difficult process, especially when it comes to diagnosing the illness and treating it. Although we can advise you and support you as much as possible with regard to choosing the best method, the final decision will remain yours and should be taken into account at the same time as the best for you and your health. Despite the fact that all women who have undergone a mastectomy procedure should also undergo a breast reconstruction procedure, there is no right or wrong to choose this in your case.

Breast reconstruction surgery can be performed at the same time as mastectomy (also known as first-time rehabilitation or as immediate rehabilitation) or later (second-time rehabilitation or post-rehabilitation). In cases of doubt or when there is a medical reason, it is equally acceptable to do some restoration in the second year. Generally, breast reconstruction can be done using either a silicone insert or a flap (a flap) from an area of ​​the patient’s body that is available – a “consumable” tissue (area of ​​the back , abdomen , buttocks or of thighs) and although in some cases a combination of both methods can be made, the method to be performed should be discussed during the session with Konstantinos Benetatos in order to decide on the best possible technique that suits the each patient.

More information about Breast Reconstruction is available below. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or wish to know the details of the operation.

Why and When Should Breast Reconstruction Be Done?

Breast rehabilitation is not part of cancer treatment, but should always be offered to patients who undergo or have undergone a mastectomy procedure as an option.

It is important to understand that a breast reconstruction, from the simplest to the more complex, involves a further intervention with its possible complications. Of course it is true that today the techniques have evolved so much that the results are really impressive.

The decision as to when the patient is to undergo rehabilitation surgery will depend on the choice of each patient, accompanied by the guidance of Mr. Constantine Benetatos. If patients will need further treatments, especially radiation, it is advisable to perform the recovery surgery in a second year. Restoration of the Throat can be performed at the same time as Breast Reconstruction or usually later.

Primary Breast Reconstruction

This operation refers to breast reconstruction, which is performed at the same time as breast-mastectomy removal surgery. However, patients should always remember that a breast reconstruction procedure may also be performed at a later date following the completion of cancer treatment.

The intervention of immediate breast reconstruction has several advantages as well as possible disadvantages.

Benefits of Immediate Breast Rehabilitation

Disadvantages of Immediate Rehabilitation

The rate of post-operative complications from a direct recovery is slightly higher than that of the post-rehabilitation breast and mainly concerns the survival of the breast skin after mastectomy.

Delayed Breast Reconstruction (Delayed Breast Reconstruction)

This surgery takes place after all treatment for cancer has been completed and may take place months or even years later. There is no specific time or specific age limit, and should only be done if the patient is physically and mentally ready to undertake an additional surgery.

Some patients opt for a recovery operation in the second year, in others merely suggested by the physician, and some who do not initially wish to undergo a breast reconstruction surgery, decide after some time you are ready to proceed with this surgery intervention.

Benefits of Extreme Breast Reform

Disadvantages of Ultimate Rehabilitation

Radiation and Breast Reconstruction

For some patients with breast cancer, radiation is a very important part of the treatment, especially for those who have undergone partial mastectomy (breast surgery), as it turns out to be a great contributor to reducing the chance of recurrence of cancer in the mass gland. It has been shown that a breast preservation surgery (ogenectomy – wide local excision – tetarthectomy) combined with radiation can have the same effects as a mastectomy procedure.

However, it has been observed that some patients who have undergone mastectomy will also benefit from a complementary radiation therapy. However, the necessity of radiotherapy is confirmed after mastectomy and histological examination of the breast preparation.

Supplemental radiation therapy, in addition to the destruction of cancer cells, also causes damage to the normal tissue of the area, leading to changes in the patient’s skin, such as discoloration, sclerosis and shrinkage, or even death of healthy breast tissue. It can also have the same effect on the tissues used to restore a breast (skin and fat from the abdomen or back). Particular attention should be paid to the use of a silicone insert with supplemental radiotherapy, where very high complication rates of up to 30% can occur, such as crevice capsitis, inflammation, discovery of the patch, severe deformity and pain but still and complete failure of recovery with forced removal of the insert.

The problems associated with radiation can be limited to breast reconstruction using the following methods:

Delayed Primary Breast Reconstruction

This is the best way to restore breast that combines the benefits of immediate recovery without putting the new breast on the risks and complications that can arise from radiation. This method initially involves placing a skin disorder under the major thoracic muscle in the same surgery as mastectomy. A prerequisite for the success of the technique is to undertake a subcutaneous mastectomy by maintaining the skin of the breast. After the histologically resected breast is removed, then the recovery plan is decided.

Two possible scenarios – first, no further treatment of the breast with radiation, so we can do the final phase of recovery either with a permanent silicone insert or with autologous tissue within the next two weeks – the second possible scenario is to need complementary radiation therapy and we expect this to be completed in order to avoid all the unpleasant consequences of radiation on the new breast, and then after a reasonable time (3-6 months) we continue with the state with autologous tissues (abdomen or back) only (not with silicone implant).