Reconstruction of mastectomy defects is challenging. It is even more challenging in the face of radiation. Not all tissues and tissue types tolerate radiation to the same degree. In some patients implant reconstructions are not amenable after they have undergone radiation. Improving the tissue characteristics is important to making an implant reconstruction a viable option. One of the more common…
There are different ways that the breast can be reconstructed following a mastectomy or bilateral mastectomy. At the time of a mastectomy operation, tissue expanders are placed and the skin is allowed to heal. Once the skin has demonstrated appropriate healing, volume is added to the expanders. After an adequate time for swelling to subside, the tissue expanders can be…
Rhinoplasty is a common procedure. The results of rhinoplasty change over time. The swelling of the nose matures over time and yields more definition to the tip and dorsum. The scar contracture of the nose also changes over time and can affect the shape of the nose. The more supported the nose is with a cartilage framework, the more the…
In patients who have breast cancer, some can undergo lumpectomy and radiation therapy. In general the concept for this method of reconstruction is amenable to those patients who have a smaller tumor relative to the size of their breast. After lumpectomy and oncoplastic reconstruction in these patients, the goal is to get the wounds to heal by about the six…
Mastopexy or breast lift is a common procedure. There are many patients who are born with breasts which have a downward positioned nipple areola complex and/or breast tissue which is located below the infra-mammary fold. Repositioning the nipple areola complex as well as the breast tissue can give the breast a more youthful appearance and return self-esteem back to high…
Breast reduction surgery is a surgery with a high satisfaction rate. Patients who undergo breast reduction typically have symptoms such as neck and back pain, rashes in the breast creases, and difficulty performing exercises such as running, jogging, and jumping. After surgery patients are instructed to wear a sports bra for 4-6 weeks. Patients often report an improvement in their…
Mastopexy surgery is a surgery with a high satisfaction rate. In mastopexy surgery, the nipple areola complex is elevated to a higher position and the breast tissue that rests below the inframammary fold is re-positioned superiorly. This re-positioning makes the breast appear more youthful. Patients also report feeling more youthful with the new position of the breast. The satisfaction rate…
DIEP flaps are useful autologous flaps for breast reconstruction. There are many times when the DIEP flaps are performed in a delayed fashion with tissue expanders placed at the time of the mastectomy and prior to the DIEP flaps. In these cases, the mastectomy procedures are performed and the skin is allowed to heal with the tissue expanders in place.…
Abdominal wall hernias can occur as a congenital deformity of the abdominal wall or as a result of a previous surgery. There are many techniques used to reconstruct abdominal wall hernias as well as there are many techniques to improve the appearance of the abdominal wall. In abdominal wall reconstruction, Strattice acelluar dermal matrix is used to share the load…
The belly button is one of the areas of abdominoplasty that help to improve the overall aesthetics of the cosmetic procedure. During an abdominoplasty operation the umbilical stalk remains attached to the abdominal wall. The umbilicus is then delivered through the skin at a new position in the abdominal wall skin. The old umbilical stalk opening is then moved downward…
Abdominoplasty is a common procedure. It is often performed to improve the abdominal contour as a result of previous pregnancies or previous weight gain or both. Patients typically request abdominoplasty to remove stretch marks that are present on the lower abdomen after childbirth or to improve the lower abdominal contour through the tightening of the lower abdominal muscles.
There are several areas where surgeons can improve or work on to maximize aesthetic outcomes. As my practice has changed over time, I find that one area where we can camouflage signs of previous surgery is the belly button or umbilicus. In an abdominoplasty procedure, the umbilicus often remains attached to the abdominal wall. The umbilicus is then delivered through…
