Breast Reconstruction

Among the most worthwhile medical procedures science has come up with is breast reconstruction. Now, women whose breasts have been removed because of breast cancer are offered one less thing to worry about.

Most of those who have undergone mastectomy are likely to opt for breast reconstruction surgery. The patients who are most appropriate for it though are those whose cancers were seen to have been totally removed by mastectomy.

However, there are a lot of logical reasons why women should wait before deciding to undergo breast reconstruction. Often, majority of the women do not feel comfortable thinking about any other medical procedure while they are dealing with the cancer diagnosis. Some may be told by their doctors to wait especially if the breast are to be reconstructed using a more complex method of using the patient’s underlying tissue and flaps of skin. Also, certain health conditions such as high blood pressure and obesity may not work well with breast reconstruction surgery. Other women may simply do not welcome the thought of undergoing another surgery than is necessary.

The benefits of breast reconstruction are what make this procedure worthwhile. Patients do not need to use prosthesis or external artificial breast. It can also augment a person’s self-confidence as her appearance will be similar before mastectomy. A reconstructed breast will also help one look and feel better with or without clothes on.

Any necessary future treatments are still possible with breast reconstruction because this surgery does not hinder chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or radiotherapy. X-rays and the various scans are also likewise doable. Thus, if the breast cancer does recur, it is still detectable by the different screening methods.

While breast reconstruction is a useful technique, it does not work to undo what has been done already. Hence, do not expect it to give you the exact appearance of your original breast. The newly-rebuilt breast will not have the same sensitivity as well. Breast feeding is also not possible on it, although you will still be able to breast feed with the other breast. A lot of women necessitate two or more operations in order to match the appearance of the opposite breast. Nipple reconstruction may also require the patient to undergo other types of minor surgery.

There are several things that a breast reconstruction patient should anticipate after the surgery. While the results are varied, it is rather unlikely to have a reconstructed breast that is a perfect match with the other breast. However, the “resulting” breast should still be greatly acceptable as it is going to give you a “matching” appearance when you’re donning a bra.

If you observe the reconstructed breast without a bra on, you will see that it looks firmer and is less droopy than the natural one. If the reconstructed breast does not give you a “matched” appearance even after wearing a bra, then you may correct this problem by using external partial prosthesis. There are a lot of sizes, shapes, and colors available to match the natural breast. These come in soft silicone flexible enough to follow the natural breast curves and nipple outline.

Regardless of age, social status, marital status, or sexual orientation, no one can really predict the impact of losing a breast. Thus, it is always advisable to find a reliable surgeon who will be able to perform the procedure well.

There are numerous places where breast reconstruction is available. Whether you’re looking for a Beverly Hills breast reconstruction hospital, or one in Texas, what is important is that you are fully aware of what you can and cannot expect from the procedure. Because the only real way the reconstructed breast can serve you well is if you let it.