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Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction - Can the Procedures Be Combined?
My mom gets really painful cysts in her breasts constantly. It's not cancer, but she is tired of having tons of biopsies and plans to have a mastectomy later this year. From what I recall when my grandmother (my dad's mom) had a mastectomy due to breast cancer, she had to wait some time before having the breast reconstruction. But I was wondering if there is any way the two procedures could be done in succession, during the same surgery session, in cases like this where there is no breast cancer involved.
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Immediate Breast Reconstruction at the time of Mastectomy.
Breast reconstruction has come a long. Years ago it was believed that the patient had to see how it was not to have a breast to appreciate what ever results she had with breast reconstruction.
With the advent of live tissue reconstruction in 1982, the use of breast expanders around the same time and recently the use of allograft dermal matrix, the reconstructions are very successful. Ninety % of the reconstruction that I perform today are immediate, combined with the mastectomy.
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Breast reconstruction can be done immediately or delayed
Breast reconstruction can be performed at the same time as a mastectomy, or after a period of "delay". In the "old days", the thought was that a woman should live for a period of time without her breast so she would be more likely to be happy with the reconstruction. This is, of course, appalling' and no longer the case.
Contemporary plastic surgeons such as myself and others answering this question will tell you that the best aesthetic result will be with an immediate...
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The two procedures can be done at the same time. In a...
The two procedures can be done at the same time.
In a cancer operation not only is the breast tissue removed but the skin is removed as well. In that situation, the reconstructive surgeon may elect to place a tissue expander to stretch the skin over time and return at a later date to place the permanent breast implant.
Since this is not a cancer operation no skin will need to be taken, allowing the surgeon to place the permanent implant at the time of the mastectomy. In fact, the nipple and...
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Immediate Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction after mastectomy can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy (immediate) or some other time after the mastectomy (delayed).
There are many breast reconstruction techniques and a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon is necessary to determine the best options.
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Combining Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction
As you indicated in your question, many women undergo a mastectomy for reasons other than breast cancer. Chronic pain from cysts such as you describe may be one indication. BRCA positive patients, who are at elevated risk of developing breast cancer, also may choose to have a mastectomy. Many years ago, breast surgeons did not recommend immediate reconstruction. However, today we routinely perform immediate reconstruction. For patients without breast cancer, almost any type of breast...
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Combined mastectomy and breast reconstruction is possible
The combined procedure is possible, and often times, the preferred method of breast reconstruction. This "immediate" reconstruction allows for the best aesthetic result because the skin of the breast is saved and an implant or "self tissue" (DIEP, TRAM, etc) can be placed inside the original breast pocket. The general surgeon and plastic surgeon work together with the first surgeon removing the breast tissue and the second surgeon reconstructing...
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Combining mastectomy and breast reconstruction
Once a woman has decided that she wants to have a breast reconstruction procedure and has determined which type of reconstructive procedure will best meet her needs, the next step is to decide on the best time to have the procedure. Breast reconstructions performed at the time of a mastectomy are called “immediate,” while those performed at a later date are called “delayed”. Each approach to the timing of breast reconstruction surgery has advantages and...
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Immediate vs. delayed breast reconstruction
There is a lot of debate about the relative merits of doing breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy vs. delaying at least a few weeks. It's a complicated question and has a lot to do with the type of mastectomy and how it is done. For someone without cancer, a skin-sparing and probably nipple-sparing technique would be considered. The reconstruction could then be done in one stage with an implant, and possibly also an alloderm graft for better coverage and support....
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Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction can be done at the same time
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Immediate Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy
Breast reconstruction can now be performed immediately after mastectomy. More women are choosing this option because it offers many benefits
1) Psychological benefits. It preserves the essence of femininity
2) It preserves the native breast skin (Prevents skin contraction)
3) Decrease the number of surgery
It is very important that you discuss this with your breast surgeon (mastectomy surgeon) and get a referral to a board certified plastic surgeon to get the best result....
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No need to wait to get a new breast after mastectomy
Absolutely, a woman can have a mastectomy and reconstruction done at the same time. It's called an "immediate breast reconstruction." Your mom will have several options. She should definitely see a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation before she has the breast removal done. Best wishes to her!
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Mastectomy and reconstruction in the same operation is called "immediate" breast reconstruction
Immediate breast reconstruction involves two surgical specialists: a Breast (General) Surgeon, who performs the mastectomy, and a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, who performs the reconstruction of the breast in the same operation.
Immediate reconstruction is felt by most Plastic Surgeons to be the best way to reconstruct a breast, because it has the following advantages:
Preserves all or most of the skin of the breast, including the nipple and areola skin in many...
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Immediate Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
Immediate breast reconstructijon is commonly performed with mastectomy. It is important to know that your breast surgeon works directly with a plastic surgeon for planning. Options for immediate reconstruc tion when cancer is not present icnlude immediate implant or expander reconstruction, or reconstruction with a patients own tummy tissue, Factors that go into decsion making include the patients's overall health, smoking history, weight, and body shape. Often, the nipples can...
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Breast reconstruction combined with mastectomy
Immediate Breast Reconstruction can be performed safely in experienced hands and has many advantages. The overall scarring is generally reduced since much of the skin is preserved and there is a psychological benefit to most patients. There is a some cases, such as the need for radiation treatment, that one should consider delaying the reconstruction until after all treatment is complete.
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Breast reconstruction immediately after mastectomy
Yes, a breast reconstruction can be done during the same procedure as a mastectomy. This is known as an "immediate reconstruction." In fact, the technique of reconstruction, whether with abdominal tissue or implants, can be done. The decision to perform an immediate reconstruction depends on many factors such as:
Reason for the mastectomy
Skin remaining after mastectomy
History of radiation or anticipated need for radiation
Previous breast...
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Talk to a Plastic Surgeon before having a mastectomy
Immediate reconstruction following mastectomy offers many great advantages. Particulaly in cases of prophylactic mastectomy, immediate reconstruction should be considered. This is why it is so important to consult with a plastic surgeon prior to having the breast removed. Reconstructed breasts can have a great aesthetic outcome, especially when skin-sparing and nipple-sparring techniques are used.
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Mastectomy and breast reconstruction
I am sorry that your mom has had to suffer with these painful cysts. The first thing I would recommend would be to identify a breast surgeon (General surgeon) to agrees that mastectomy in your mom's case would be a reasonable treatment. If this is the case then most certainly breast reconstruction can be performed at the same operation. Since this is not a cancer operation there is little reason to delay or not perform the operation at the same time.
I hope you all find this helpful.
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Consider combining Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction can be done immediate (combined with the mastectomy) or delayed (allowing the skin to heal and then doing the reconstruction months or years out).
Advantage of immediate, you do not let the skin contract and you can have a better cosmetic result. If Radiotherapy is planned, there are others who will argue that delayed may be better. For those who are not totally convinced they want a reconstruction, it may be better to wait it out.
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Breast reconstruction can be started at the time of the mastectomy
Hello,
Breast reconstruction can be started just following mastectomy and yields better results overall than the delayed reconstruction particularly for benign disease or low grade cancers. In the best of circumstances the mastectomy is of the skin sparing type and the plastic surgeon is present helping the procedure along from the beginning.
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Immediate breast reconstruction is the gold standard
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Mastectomy and breast reconstruction can be performed in one surgery
Yes, this is the ideal situation. The breast surgeon will remove the breast and the plastic surgeon will perform the breast reconstruction. The plastic surgeon will coordinate with the breast surgeon to optimize the results of the surgery. By working together and planning the surgery ahead of time, your Mom will get the optimal result. Hope this helps.
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Immediate breast reconstruction gives the best results
From a reconstructive surgery standpoint, immediate breast reconstruction is much easier technically ,since the wounds are fresh and you're not dealing with scar tissue. Not everyone is a candidate for immediate breast reconstruction, especially patients who had been irradiated or are being scheduled for immediate postmastectomy radiation.
Most general surgeons will discuss breast reconstruction with the patients and oftentimes, refer the patient to the reconstructive plastic...
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