Extra Skin Left After Prophylactic BM? What Are My Options For Reconstruction? (photo)

asked 3 months ago by JJG in OKC, OK
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 152 times
Tags: flatten, options, ridges

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.

6 answers to Extra Skin Left After Prophylactic BM? What Are My Options For Reconstruction? (photo)

Breast reconstruction

Too bad to not have a consult with a plastic surgeon before your mastectomies. It may be a good idea now to go speak with someone about the options. Leaving the extra skin is OK. If it turns out not to be of adequate quality during reconstruction it can always be discarded. At present since you are early post-op, this tissue is likely swollen and things need to settle down a bit.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reconstruction Options AFTER Simple Mastectomy

Many large Plastic Surgery volumes were written on this very topic and the space and time allowed cannot address all of your options. Most commonly the ideal Breast Reconstruction begins BEFORE the maatectomy. The breast surgeon and Plastic surgeons cooperate and plan the incision pattern as well as WHICH reconstruction path, out of the many ones available, would be taken. Your health, your future radiation / chemotherapy treatments, your weight, your desire for breast implants VS. use... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Options for breast reconstruction

You certainly have many options for breast reconstruction on a delayed basis. A consultation with a plastic surgeon will help you understand your reconstructive options.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Extra skin is good for future reconstruction

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... more

Kari L. Colen, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.colenmd.com

Extra skin after mastectomy

Thank you for your question and the photos. Yes, this is a typical look after mastecomy in a women that before surgery has 38DD breasts. This can be addressed by a plastic surgeon at the time of breast reconstruction if you choose to have reconstruction. Also, if a plastic surgeon is involved from the very beginning, there are alternative incision patterns, such as an inverted T skin reduction pattern, that can be used by the plastic surgeon to help alleviate your problem of... more

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

Breast reconstruction options

If you are looking at getting breast reconstruction, the extra skin can either be removed or used to cover implants. Note that your creases below the breasts were preserved and this will help you have a better result. If you don't plan to make new breasts, the extra skin can be removed to tailor the chest wall better.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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