Breast
About Breast Reconstruction
Surgical breast reconstruction can be performed to restore the chest to an attractive appearance in shape and size following a lumpectomy or mastectomy. It’s also an option to restore the chest if it has been damaged by a birth defect or trauma. Advanced techniques and tools in reconstructive surgery make it easier for breast cancer patients to feel complete and have breasts that look natural after breast removal or damage. This surgery can include a few procedures and different stages that may be done at the same time as your breast cancer treatment or delayed until the treatment is complete. Baton Rouge, LA plastic surgeon Erick Sanchez, M.D. creates an individualized surgical plan with compassion as we help you and your cancer team to restore your appearance and confidence at Erick Sanchez, M.D. Plastic Surgery.
Ideal Candidates
Reconstruction of the breast(s) is an extremely personalized surgery. Each patient will be required to have an in-depth consultation appointment with Dr. Sanchez to create their surgical plan that addresses their concerns, needs, and aesthetic goals so that the appropriate techniques can be applied. If you are planning to have breast reconstruction surgery, it’s vital that you understand what realistic expectations for results can look like. While Dr. Sanchez aims to give you an attractive, natural appearance, your reconstructed breast(s) may not have the same sensations, feel, or look as your original breast(s). You should get approval from your oncology team to undergo reconstruction surgery and talk to Dr. Sanchez regarding other factors that may impact your recovery.
Surgical Technique
There’s a variety of surgical techniques available to reconstruct the breast. There are also multiple factors that Dr. Sanchez looks at when deciding on the technique that will give you your best results. A few of these factors include your specific cancer diagnosis, when the reconstruction is performed, whether you will use implants or natural tissue, and if nipple reconstruction or nipple-sparing is a part of the treatment plan. To recreate the breast, you must have enough tissue to fully cover the breast mound. Flap procedures accomplish this by using your own muscle, skin, and fat to build and cover the breast. The most frequent flap techniques are:
- TRAM Flap
This technique takes skin, fat, and muscle from your stomach to create the breast. The tissue selected to build the new breast may be removed from the stomach or the tissue may stay connected to the donor location, maintaining the original blood supply. - DIEP Flap
Similar to a TRAM Flap, the DIEP Flap removes skin, fat, and blood vessels from the lower abdominal area; however, it does not use the muscle. The DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap removes skin and fat from the belly to form the new breast, then uses microsurgery to reattach the blood vessels to the chest wall. - Latissimus Dorsi Flap
This technique uses muscle, fat, and skin from your back. During this technique, tissue is taken from the back to the breast(s) via a surgically created path so it stays attached to the donor location, which keeps the original blood supply in place. - PAP Flap
Another flap is the profunda artery perforator (PAP). This method uses skin, fat, and muscle tissue from your inner thigh to create your breast(s). - LTP Flap
Although the TRAM flap is one of the most common techniques used for breast reconstruction, sometimes there isn’t enough muscle, fat, and skin that can be taken from the abdominal area. In this case, the LTP flap technique may be performed, which uses tissue from the outer thigh. - Composite Flap
Also called a composite stacked flap, this technique takes flaps from different sections of your body for breast reconstruction.
Breast Reconstruction Video
Reclaim Your Self Confidence
Although the process of breast reconstruction can take time, it’s probably one of the top beneficial cosmetic surgeries for our Baton Rouge, LA patients at Erick Sanchez, M.D. Plastic Surgery. It can help restore your self-image and begin the process of overcoming the physical and emotional impact of breast cancer treatment. In addition, it can help you reclaim your figure and boost your self-confidence. If you have breast cancer, have had an injury to the chest, or have a congenital defect that affects the shape of your breasts, we encourage you to contact our Baton Rouge, LA plastic surgery office and make an appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Erick Sanchez.
Dr. Sanchez wants his patients to be as healthy as possible before undergoing surgery. He performs cosmetic surgery on candidates with a BMI under 32 or a body fat percentage of 35% or lower. This reduces risk of complications and ultimately gives the patient better results.
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