Breast Reconstruction After Cancer

Breast cancer is by far the most prevalent form of cancer affecting women in the UK today and as many as 1 in 8 people are affected by the disease.

Recovering Confidence & Self Esteem

If you’re reading this you may have been affected personally or know somebody who has had breast cancer. The cancer can be treated either by removing part or the whole breast. If the cosmetic result is poor it can provide a devastating blow to the their identity and self confidence. Reconstruction can be offered either following cancer removal or at the same time. Therefore it is important patients understand all options.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Breast reconstruction surgery can be used to create a new breast for a woman and replace breast tissue removed through treatment. There are two paths to breast reconstruction in the form of two different kinds of surgery:

Tissue Expander Method

This where a temporary breast implant is inserted into the patient’s chest area where the reconstruction is needed. This implant is gradually inflated with a saline solution to increase the size. Once a sufficient mass is reached, the temporary implant is then replaced with a permanent one and the procedure is completed.

Flap reconstruction method

Here, skin, fat and sometimes muscle is removed from patient’s body, from the back, abdomen, buttock or thigh. This strip is then grafted and sculpted to the patient’s chest to provide a cavity for a breast implant to be placed underneath.

Note:Both these surgeries also require a secondary operation to be performed afterwards to reconstruct the nipple area and in some cases areola tattooing is necessary too.