The Breast Reconstruction Procedure
There are a variety of methods that can be used to recreate your breast. Some patients wish to undergo implant surgery, while others prefer flap breast reconstruction because it provides results that look and feel more natural.
If you have a flap breast reconstruction, excess skin and fat from the lower abdomen is used to create the new breast. This has the added advantage of simultaneously improving the appearance of your stomach. In other cases, skin, fat and muscle from your upper back can be used to create the new breast. An implant can also be used alone or in combination with flap reconstruction to improve the shape and size of the new breast. The implant may be placed immediately or a tissue-expander may be used and be replaced with an implant later.
Eventually, a new nipple and areola can also be reconstructed, although some women will choose to use a stick-on one instead. Breast reconstruction surgery is usually performed under general anaesthesia and can take up to eight hours, depending on the reconstruction method being used.
Recovery from Breast Reconstruction Surgery
The amount of time it takes to recover from breast reconstruction depends on the type of surgery performed.
If you undergo implant surgery, you should be able to return to work in approximately one week. However,
if your implant involves gradual tissue expansion, you will have to return to our office for salt-water injections.
If you received flap breast reconstruction using tissue from your back, it may take two to three weeks to return to work. Similarly, if you underwent flap breast reconstruction using tissue from your stomach, it may take as
long as four weeks to resume light activity. All patients can usually make a full recovery about six weeks after surgery.
If you undergo implant surgery, you should be able to return to work in approximately one week. However,
if your implant involves gradual tissue expansion, you will have to return to our office for salt-water injections.
If you received flap breast reconstruction using tissue from your back, it may take two to three weeks to return to work. Similarly, if you underwent flap breast reconstruction using tissue from your stomach, it may take as
long as four weeks to resume light activity. All patients can usually make a full recovery about six weeks after surgery.