Tulsa Breast Reconstruction doctors
 |
Anureet K. Bajaj, MD
Oklahoma City Plastic Surgeon
6205 N. Santa Fe Suite 105, Oklahoma City |
4 answers | |
 |
Archibald S. Miller, MD
Tulsa Plastic Surgeon
6585 S. Yale Suite 315, Tulsa |
||
 |
Greg Ratliff, MD
Tulsa Plastic Surgeon
2107 East 15th Street , Tulsa |
Recent Answers
How often are surgeons able to make the breasts look identical during the first surgery following a mastectomy? What is the realistic number of surgeries that will be needed on average?
While the goal of breast reconstruction is to achieve symmetry between both breasts after reconstruction, it is rarely going to be perfect. Many factors will play a role on how many surgeries will be necessary and how close the two breasts will look. These factors may include your anatomy (most women are not symmetrical pre-operatively, and you may require a symmetry procedure on your non-cancer breast), the type of mastectomy performed, whether the reconstruction is an immediate (done at the same time as the mastectomy) or delayed (done months to years after the mastectomy) reconstruction, whether you have had or will have radiation therapy as part of your cancer treatment, and also the type of reconstruction you choose (implant-based or using your own tissue).
I would recommend that you discuss these issues with your board-certified plastic surgeon. He or she should be able to guide you as to what are realistic expectations considering your individual situation. Good luck!
I've found a lot of information on this site about how it's ok to do upper body exercise with under-the-muscle breast implants, you'll just have a different aesthetic while working out.
Is it different if the implants are for reconstruction after mastectomy? They say one of the drawbacks to reconstruction is weaker chest muscles -- is that true? I don't understand why there's a difference.
It is okay to workout and lift upper body weights after either cosmetic breast implants that are under the muscle or after reconstruction. When implants are under the muscle, regardless of whether its for reconstruction or cosmetic purposes, they will move slightly when the muscle is flexed and used.
Initially, you will experience weakness, especially when compared with what you were able to do before surgery. This is true for any type of submuscular implant -- reconstructive or cosmetic. But with time, you will regain your stregnth although it may not be equal to what you had prior to surgery.
My grandmother and mother were both diagnosed with breast cancer and passed away from it. I am a 22-year-old, healthy female who is considering a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. My mom, who lost her battle to cancer in October, was only 40 when she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. I want to have the procedure soon but I'm not sure if there is a suggested age. Please clarify this.
Many women with a strong family history of breast cancer consider having prophylactic mastectomies and reconstruction. For starters, you should consider having a discusion with a genetic counseler to further assess your family history and your need for genetic testing (BRCA testing). Even if you are not a BRCA mutation carrier, you may still be at high risk for breast cancer.
As for timing of the prophylactic mastectomies and reconstruction....most oncologists recommend that you start screening 10 years before the age of your youngest relative with the disease. For you, this would mean that you would need to start screening at age 30. To discuss the optimal timing of your surgeries, you may want to visit with a plastic surgeon and oncologist in addition to the genetic counselor. Good luck!