Lesson 4: Breast Reconstruction & Prosthesis
Breast Reconstruction discusses various implants
Implants
A breast cancer patient who must undergo a mastectomy has the additional chore of deciding whether or not to have reconstruction. It is traumatic enough for most women to grieve the loss of a breast, a significant part of not only their body, but also their lives. Breasts are associated with nurturing, sexual identity, femininity – a whole host of emotions. Fortunately, plastic surgeons can now offer a myriad of choices for those women who wish to have reconstructive surgery. I personally chose not to have reconstruction. I will explain that choice later in this lesson.
Most women who must undergo a mastectomy will visit the plastic surgeon prior to the surgery. You can opt to have reconstruction done at the same time as your mastectomy, a short time later, or you may elect for reconstruction ten years after your surgery. There are two basic types of reconstruction: using an implant and using your own body tissue.
There are currently two types of implants: saline and silicone. Silicone was banned for breast augmentation in the early 1990s but is still allowed for reconstruction. Neither implant interferes with mammography readings nor recurrence detection. The implant is placed behind the pectoralis muscle and the skin is sewn shut. This is the easiest reconstruction to do. The disadvantages include the fact that this "breast" will not change with age. If your other breast sags, the implant will remain firm. If you gain or lose weight, this breast won’t change. Implants can, on rare occasion, leak. There still is no scientific data on the long-term effects of silicone. Saline implant leaks will just deliver harmless saline into your system. Saline implants are still contained in a silicone covering, however.
The most common, I believe, form for the implant today is the use of expanders. At the surgery, an empty balloon-type object in inserted behind the chest muscle and the chest area is sutured closed. The "balloon" has a valve attached to it. The woman visits the doctor every few weeks or so for an injection of saline. When the skin has stretched enough to accommodate the size agreed upon, the balloon is replaced with a permanent implant. The disadvantage here is that the process takes several months.
Again, please remember that any type of additional surgery probably adds time to your inpatient status. Infection is always a remote concern. Implants are foreign objects and no one knows how your body will handle them. Still, for many women, implants are the easiest and best choice for reconstruction.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breas...
