Trans-Axillary breast augmentation allows implants to be placed through the armpit without a visible scar on the breast or chest wall. Revision of the implant is possible through the same trans-axillary incision but can be challenging. Silicone implants can be placed through the trans-axillary incision, but the volume may be slightly limited. Patient satisfaction is high with the trans-axillary incision.…
Breast augmentation is a common procedure to improve the shape or appearance of the breast and increase the breast size. There are many incision choices for breast augmentation. One of the more common incision choices is periareolar. This incisions tends to heal very well with minimal scarring. Patient satisfaction is quite high with breast augmentation.
There are many different ways to reconstruct the breast following lumpectomy. Oncoplastic reconstruction of lumpectomy defects can provide excellent exposure for the oncologic breast surgeon to perform a lumpectomy and it can also allow the breast to be reconstructed in an aesthetic fashion. The mastopexy or breast lift component of the reconstruction can make a more compact target for radiation…
Secondary mastopexy augmentation is when a mastopexy augmentation is performed in a previously augmented or operated breast. In these patients it is important to take significant attention to the previous plane of the implant and previous incisions to be able to discern the remaining blood supply to the breast. In the secondary mastopexy augmentation it is quite common to perform…
DIEP flap reconstruction involves moving the lower abdominal tissue to the chest to reconstruct either one or both breasts. The healing process for DIEP flaps, as any other surgery, can take up to one year to 18 months or more to completely soften up and heal. Typical strenuous activity and weightlifting restrictions are on the order of 6 weeks. For…
Abdominoplasty is the medical term for a “tummy tuck”. Frequently women come to our office as they find it nearly impossible to restore the contour to their abdomen that they once had despite strict diet and exercise. After the delivery of several children, the rectus abdominus muscles and fascia of the abdominal wall become lax. When this occurs, despite women…
Tumors of the upper outer quadrant of the breast and with certain characteristics can be excised with lumpectomy, intra-operative radiation therapy, and oncoplastic reconstruction of the lumpectomy defect. In general, tumors that are amenable to lumpectomy and IORT tend to be less than 3 cm, estrogen receptor positive, unifocal, and have negative lymph node status. When a breast undergoes a…
Breast reconstruction for mastectomy involves the healing of mastectomy incisions and often additional incisions from abdominal donor sites. Patients will often ask what to do about their incisions to facilitate healing. In general, we instruct patients to avoid creams or ointments on the incisions as well as any hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. After six weeks once all the incisions…
Breast reconstruction is a challenging aspect of plastic and reconstructive surgery. Mastectomy reconstruction involves re-creating the breast when skin is thin and devitalized and or radiated from the mastectomy surgery. When a breast implant becomes exposed after mastectomy reconstruction the patient and surgeon are faced with a challenging problem. The implant can become exposed from poor quality of the mastectomy…
Breast reconstruction can be a very rewarding aspect of a plastic and reconstructive surgeons practice. It can also be one of the most challenging aspects of the practice. In a mastectomy, the blood supply to the skin and the blood supply to the nipple areola complex are removed. Then, the breast is reconstructed with a foreign silicone object, which is…
