How is breast reconstruction done?

Breast reconstruction is a type of plastic surgery that is usually done on women who have had to perform the mastectomy, which corresponds to the removal of the breast, usually due to breast cancer. Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure that aims to give a new breast to mastectomized women, taking into account the size, shape and appearance of the breasts, in order to improve the self-esteem, self-confidence and quality of life of the woman who usually is impaired after removal of the breast.

The main purpose of this surgery is to return the breast to the woman or to leave the breasts symmetrical and of similar size if only one breast has been removed, for example. For this, there are two main types of breast reconstruction with:

1. Implant, which consists of placing a silicone implant under the skin, simulating the natural shape of the breast;
2. Abdominal clothing in which skin and fat are removed from the abdominal region to use in the region of the breasts and reconstruct the breasts. In some cases, flaps of the legs or back may also be used if there is not enough in the belly, for example.

The type of reconstruction should be discussed with the doctor and varies according to the woman's goals, the type of mastectomy performed and the cancer treatments that were done.

In many cases, if it has not been possible to preserve the nipples during the mastectomy, the woman may choose to try to rebuild them 2 or 3 months after breast reconstruction or leave only breast volume with smooth skin and no nipples. This is because reconstruction of the nipples is a very complex process that must be done by a surgeon with a lot of experience.

Surgery price

The value of breast reconstruction varies according to the type of surgery, surgeon and clinic in which the procedure will be performed, costing between R $ 5000 and R $ 10, 000.00. However, breast reconstruction is a right of mastectomized women and who are enrolled in the Unified Health System (SUS), but the waiting time can be quite long, especially when the reconstruction is not done together with the mastectomy.

When to rebuild

Ideally, breast reconstruction should be done along with mastectomy, so that the woman does not have to undergo a period of psychological adjustment to her new image. However, there are cases where a woman needs to have radiation to complete cancer treatment, and in such cases radiation can delay healing, and it is recommended to delay reconstruction as well.

In addition, when the cancer is very extensive and you need to remove a large amount of breast and skin during the mastectomy, the body needs more time to recover, and it is also advised to delay the reconstruction.

However, while reconstructive surgery can not be done, a woman can opt for other techniques, such as wearing bras with padding, to better her self-esteem and to have more self-confidence.

Care after breast reconstruction

After reconstruction, gases and tapes are normally placed in the surgical incisions, and an elastic bandage or bra is recommended to reduce swelling and support the reconstructed breast. It may also be necessary to use a drain, which should be placed under the skin, to remove any excess blood or fluid that may interfere with the healing process and favor the occurrence of infections.

The doctor may also recommend using some medicines to decrease the risk of infections, as well as measures related to local hygiene and regular medical follow-up. Recovery after breast reconstruction may take several weeks, with progressive decrease in swelling and improvement in the shape of the breast.

The new breast does not have the same sensitivity as the previous one and it is also common to have scars related to the procedure. However, there are some options that can help disguise scars such as massage oils or moisturizers or aesthetic procedures, which should be done under the guidance of the dermatologist.

Advantages and disadvantages of the type of surgery

The type of breast reconstruction can not always be chosen by the woman, due to her clinical history, however, there are some cases in which the doctor allows to make this choice. Thus, the advantages and disadvantages of each method are summarized in the following table:

Thus, while choosing to use implants is a simpler option and with an easier recovery, in some cases, it may pose a greater risk of problems in the future. The use of flap is a more complicated and more time-consuming surgery, however, it has fewer long-term risks because it uses tissues removed from the woman herself.

See how recovery and risks of any breast plastic surgery are.