Breast Reconstruction

At Rizk Plastic Surgery in Sydney breast reconstruction typically incorporates the remaining tissue along with implants and/or prosthetics. In most cases, the entire breast, nipple-areola complex, and underlying tissue have to be rebuilt. This can be a process that involves several steps and procedures as the body heals and adjusts to a reconstructed, whole state of being.

There are two categories of methods available for reconstructing the breasts and doctors may recommend either of them depending on your individual needs. Options include reconstruction with flap surgery and reconstruction with implant or fat transfer surgery.

This is because abdominal fat is a close match for breast tissue, so it can feel similar to breast tissue. Some patients – particularly if they have had intensive medical treatment – may have lost weight and not have much fat left to graft. Another challenge in fat grafting is even if the patient has plenty of fat to harvest, it may not be enough to get the cup size they want.

And if the patient would like their breast sizes to match, they have to be willing to reduce the size of their healthy breast. Some women do not want any kind of breast reduction, so for this reason, fat transfer is often used in tandem with implants during breast reconstruction surgery.

Once the choice of breast reconstruction material has been selected, the site of the implant has to be prepared. Because of the tissue damage caused by mastectomy, cancer survivors often have no breast tissue, skin, or muscle at the point of extraction. For this reason, skin and muscle have to be grafted as part of the surgery.

During your consultation with Dr Rizk, he will thoroughly discuss all of the options with you and help you choose the reconstruction plan that is right for your situation and needs. Important factors to take into consideration include the type of mastectomy you had, your cancer treatments, and your body type. Making sure you are comfortable and fully understand the procedure is of utmost importance to Dr Rizk at every stage of your process.

This is, even more, key for cancer survivors. Throughout their treatment, they put all their energy into getting better. Once their treatment is complete, they might focus more on their friends and families, helping them to recover from the ordeal that they have all just shared.

It's often a little while before their focus shifts back to themselves. Dr Rizk understands that, for many women, breast reconstruction is not about appearance alone; it can be closely connected to their sense of femininity.

Reconstruction can be immediate (in the same operation as the mastectomy) or delayed; this is discussed with your breast cancer team. When they're working on breast reconstructions Sydney surgeons use the same tools and methods that they use in breast implants. This means they can insert saline implants, silicone implants, or fat grafts.

Breast reconstruction is possible even if the survivor had previously received radiotherapy. Good candidates for breast reconstruction are otherwise in good health and don't have any other significant health issues, diseases, or infections. They also fully understand the procedure and have realistic expectations.

For implant or fat transfer surgery, the process will begin by preparing the skin for implants. There are two ways to do this. One is to extract some muscle from the patient's back and use it to anchor the patient's new breast. The muscle will cover the implant, just like the pectoral muscle would in a healthy patient.

Option two is to stretch the skin on the patient's chest then place the implant under the stretched skin. This method is less invasive, but it takes far longer because a surgical balloon has to be placed under the skin, and then the patient will visit the clinic periodically so that the doctor can gradually inflate the balloon. Once the skin is sufficiently expanded, an implant can be inserted. Skin expansion usually takes around three months.

A sub-option is applicable in cases where the patient is getting a transplant made of abdominal fat. In such scenarios, the surgeon can harvest a tummy flap that includes fat, skin, and muscle, then graft it as a comprehensive implant.

On the day of surgery, you will be placed completely under anesthesia. Dr Rizk will then begin the procedure, either harvesting the skin and tissue graft or preparing your chest to receive implants. Reconstruction often takes several stages; the nipple is usually reconstructed later (see nipple-areola reconstruction).

This process usually takes several hours depending on the complexity of the surgery. Depending on the technique, a hospital stay of one to several days may be needed. You will need someone to pick you up and drive you home as well as help you and monitor your condition in the first few days of your recovery.

Know that these activities may be painful and difficult at first, but they will get easier and more comfortable as your body heals. In general, you will experience swelling, bruising, and tenderness for the first week or two and should avoid activities that involve things like reaching and lifting. According to Dr Rizk's instructions, you should make sure to keep the surgery sites clean and bandaged appropriately. You may notice that your breasts change in size and/or shape slightly over the first month of recovery, but this is normal.

Any implants or transplanted tissue can be expected to shift and move somewhat as the swelling goes down and your body settles. Dr Rizk will also provide 24-hour contact information to be used should any urgent concerns arise, but contact emergency medical assistance immediately if you experience any extreme or life-threatening situations. Also, he will schedule follow-up appointments to check your progress and advise any further care.

Results vary between individuals and further surgery may sometimes be needed.