Long Island Breast Reconstruction doctors
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Tracy Pfeifer, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
565 Park Ave , New York |
11 answers | |
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Kari L. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
742 Park Avenue, New York |
4 answers | |
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Stephen U. Harris, MD
Long Island Plastic Surgeon
500 Montauk Hwy Suite H, West Islip |
3 answers | |
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Sanjiv Kayastha, MD
Albany Plastic Surgeon
711 Troy Schenectady Road Suite206, Latham |
2 answers | |
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William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon
308 E 79th St Suite 1D, New York |
1 answer |
Recent Answers
I'm 1 mo. post-prophylactic bilateral simple mastectomy; no nodes removed. Prior to surgery, I was a 38DD. I expected to have a flat chest post surgery, but what I ended up w/ was flatness above the incisions & rather large "ridges" of skin below the incisions. Will these ridges flatten out any over time or is this the look a surgeon typically gives women who are undecided about future recon? I also have an extra, fat flap near rt. underarm. Will it flatten out? Exploring possible recon.
If you want future reconstruction the extra skin will be a large help in giving you a more cosmetically pleasing reconstruction. You can choose many different types of reconstruction bases on your medical problems, body type and need for radiation treatment. You may choose to do tissue expanders with implants or use your own tissue for reconstruction ( like your tummy). If you do not want reconstruction then you will most likely want another surgery to remove the extra skin from your chest.
I had a right mastectomy in March of this year and was planning on having immediate reconstruction; however, one of the lymph nodes had a tiny bit of cancer in it so they did not do that. I did have radiation and completed that in June, but did not require chemotherapy. I am planning on having a TRAM flap and having my left breast reduced and lifted to match the right one (I wanted to be smaller). Would it be reasonable for me to plan on having this done next March or April? I have been very diligent about putting Aloe gel on my radiation site, am getting my strength back (even stopped working to speed my recovery) and am working out about 4 times a week (I'm 57). I want to get this done and move on with my life. I am VERY self-conscious about going out with the "one breast" and wear big shirts to camoflauge, and only wear the bra & prosthesis when line dancing as it is very uncomfortable. I would appreciate any help you could give me - thank you! Pam Murchison
It sounds like you have been very diligent about your exercise and care to the radiation site. I also must acknowledge how difficult it must have been for you without any form of breast mound while you underwent radiation. By this point you should be more then ready for your reconstruction. As long as the skin is healed and you desire reconstruction please do it. I do think that using your own tissue after radiation is better then using an implant. TRAM flap is one way. I prefer a DIEP flap. That is where we use the tummy fat but don't take the muscle. Either way, you have been dealing with this for a year, it is almost over.
How do medical products like Alloderm aid in breast reconstruction procedures?
Alloderm is a human derived dermal matrix that can be used in a variety of medical procedures. In breast reconstruction it it used to cover the lower half of the tissue expander or implant. The upper half is covered by the pectoralis muscle. Covering the lower half of the expander or implant with alloderm allows the surgeon to control the shape of the lower half of the breast.
