DIEP flap breast reconstruction is an excellent option for a unilateral mastectomy in a patient with the appropriate body habitus. The unilateral autologous reconstruction can match the contralateral breast well with respect to shape. Size can also be matched well, depending on the abdominal donor site. Autologous flap reconstructions tolerate radiation therapy well. This is a right unilateral DIEP flap…
Breast cancer in some patients can be successfully treated with lumpectomy and radiation. Often the same pattern used to make the breast appear more youthful can be utilized to reconstruct the breast and make it in a more suitable shape for radiation therapy to be more effective. When the tumor is in a location close to the skin and outside…
Bilateral implant breast reconstruction following bilateral mastectomy is a common procedure. The aesthetic outcome of the reconstruction is often determined by the quality of the mastectomy skin and the relation of the tissue characteristics and the implant. In patients who choose to undergo implant reconstruction I often indicate that the best outcomes and most durable reconstruction are the patients who…
In general implant mastectomy reconstruction takes place in two stages. At the time of the mastectomy a tissue expander is inserted beneath the pectoralis major muscle and a piece of acellular dermal matrix or Strattice is inserted to provide support to the tissue expander. There are times, albeit rare, when I proceed with immediate insertion of mammary prosthesis. Patients who…
Lumpectomy and radiation, either whole breast or intra-operative radiation therapy is an option for breast cancer treatment. Not only can oncoplastic reconstruction improve the appearance of the breast, it can also contour the breast to a more amenable shape and size for radiation therapy. When the breast is reconstructed into a smaller surface area, there is a smaller and more…
Breast cancers in patients with large breasts can often be successfully treated with lumpectomy. In larger breasted women, after the tumor is removed, there is still a significant amount of breast tissue available to reconstruct the breast. The standard mastopexy or lift patterns of the breast can be used to remove the tumor. On occasion, the tumor that needs to…
DIEP Flap breast reconstruction is the reconstruction of the breast following mastectomy. DIEP flap reconstruction is a form of autologous reconstruction where the breast is reconstructed with tissue from the patients own body. In this case, the breast can be reconstructed without the use of implants. The tissue from the lower abdomen is the most common site for autologous breast…
Superficial tumors of the breast can be removed using the same patterns to perform mastopexy or breast reduction. When the tumor lies outside of the standard pattern for mastopexy or breast reduction, the skin pattern can be adjusted to remove the skin above the tumor. In this case the skin from the lower aspect of the breast on the patients…
Lumpectomy defects often need to be closed carefully to minimize scar contracture following radiation therapy. The reduction or mastopexy pattern actually facilitates radiation delivery as it produces a more compact target for a directed radiation beam. In general, radiation begins approximately 6 weeks after lumpectomy unless chemotherapy is to be initiated. It is important for all wounds to be healed…
The same patterns that are used to improve the appearance of the breast can also be utilized to remove cancers in the breast. We encourage our patients to consume approximately 80-100 grams of protein per day for 4-6 weeks prior to surgery and for 4-6 weeks after surgery. The protein intake is important to facilitate wound healing. In general the…
