Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is done with the use of soft tissue breast expanders and implants. The expander is placed in the first surgical procedure. The skin is then slowly stretched over a period of two to four months. Following the completion of the expansion, the expander is changed for a permanent breast implant. The benefit of the expansion is that more skin is available for the reconstruction:

Additional skin

Better contour

Inframammary fold

Larger volume breast reconstruction

Softer breast

"Before Mastectomy Picture"

"After Implant Reconstruction"

Mastectomy on right; Reduction on the left.

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Latissimus Muscle Breast Reconstruction:

The latissimus dorsi muscle is the large flat muscle located over the back. The muscle can be brought under the arm to the breast to provide additional skin and muscle or muscle only. The requirement depends upon the needs of the patient following the mastectomy. The muscle provides good cover for an implant in special cases such as those with skin damaged by radiotherapy. An expander or an implant is placed beneath the muscle. The expander is slowly injected with saline at two week intervals until a sufficient size has been obtained. The expander the then removed and the implant is placed.

Indications for latissimus muscle flap:

          Insufficient skin for size match

          Thin skin

          Irradiated skin

          Volume for the upper breast defect

Tail of the breast toward the arm

The latissimus dorsi muscle is the large flat muscle located over the back. The muscle can be brought under the arm to the breast to provide additional skin and muscle or muscle only. The requirement depends upon the needs of the patient following the mastectomy. The muscle provides good cover for an implant in special cases such as those with skin damaged by radiotherapy. An expander or an implant is placed beneath the muscle. The expander is slowly injected with saline at two week intervals until a sufficient size has been obtained. The expander the then removed and the implant is placed.

Indications for latissimus muscle flap:

          Insufficient skin for size match

          Thin skin

          Irradiated skin

          Volume for the upper breast defect

Tail of the breast toward the arm

The latissimus dorsi muscle is the large flat muscle located over the back. The muscle can be brought under the arm to the breast to provide additional skin and muscle or muscle only. The requirement depends upon the needs of the patient following the mastectomy. The muscle provides good cover for an implant in special cases such as those with skin damaged by radiotherapy. An expander or an implant is placed beneath the muscle. The expander is slowly injected with saline at two week intervals until a sufficient size has been obtained. The expander the then removed and the implant is placed.

Indications for latissimus muscle flap:

          Insufficient skin for size match

          Thin skin

          Irradiated skin

          Volume for the upper breast defect

Tail of the breast toward the arm

The latissimus dorsi muscle is the large flat muscle located over the back. The muscle can be brought under the arm to the breast to provide additional skin and muscle or muscle only. The requirement depends upon the needs of the patient following the mastectomy. The muscle provides good cover for an implant in special cases such as those with skin damaged by radiotherapy. An expander or an implant is placed beneath the muscle. The expander is slowly injected with saline at two week intervals until a sufficient size has been obtained. The expander the then removed and the implant is placed.

"After Picture"

The nipple has been recently tattooed and will fade.

"After Picture"

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