October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer and breast cancer reconstruction can be challenging to treat, reconstruct, and manage. There are however, many different options available to patients to reconstruct the breast.
The mastectomy operation in itself can significantly devascularize the skin of the chest wall. Placing tissue expanders at the time of mastectomy can often lead to cellulitis or abscess formation. It can be difficult to eradicate these infections without removing the tissue expander or breast implants. In these cases, reconstructing the breast with implants can be quite challenging. In hostile skin environments we can reconstruct the breast with the patients own abdominal tissue.
In the bilateral DIEP flap breast reconstruction, one half of the abdomen can be used to reconstruct the contralateral breast and vice versa. When a patient has had previous abdominal operations, the risk of abdominal skin necrosis or hernia formation may be more likely. Careful pre-operative planning, nutrition, hyperbaric oxygen, and the planning of staged procedures may improve aesthetic outcome.
The photograph demonstrates before and after bilateral breast reconstruction with DIEP flaps. This patient was told she had no options for breast reconstruction. While breast reconstruction is challenging, it is helpful for patients to know that there may be options for their breast reconstruction so they can successfully put this chapter of their life in the past.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
