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Best Option for Natural Looking Breast After Mastectomy?

I have been classified as very high risk (42%)for getting breast cancer. I have not dealt well with all the worry and testing the past 1 and 1/2 years.

I do not want to be treated with Tamoxifen; oncologist now recommends bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. I am 44 years old; 5'6" and obese at 248 lbs. wear size 44D bra but would be extremely happy with much smaller breast size.

No additional medical problems except Fibromyalgia. Had abdominal hernia repair with mesh 10 years ago. What surgical option would produce the best visual/natural outcome?

Asked 30 months ago by alucasrn in Charlotte, NC

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age 35-44 female 230-249 lbs 5 ft 4 in to 5 ft 7 in breast cancer breast size hernia mastectomy natural overweight

Most Natural Breast Reconstruction

You pose an interesting challenge. The reflex response for me is DIEP flaps for breast reconstruction, but due to some of your existing conditions (obesity and abdominal hernia repair) DIEP is not necessarily going to be the most appropriate. I would need some more information be I gave you an opinion that I felt comfortable with. Depending on the location and extent of your hernia repair, you may or may not be a candidate for abdominal tissue harvest. Because of your... more

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Leif Liu Rogers, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast reconstruction

There are many options for breast reconstruction including tissue exapnders and implants, latissimus flaps with implants, fat grafting for small contour problems, TRAM flaps, DIEP flaps, SGAP, and IGAP flaps to name a few. You require an exam first to figrue out what is best for you..

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Prophylactic Mastectomy with Immediate Reconstruction

Based on your question, the most natural breast reconstruction is a tissue reconstruction with DIEP or TRAM flaps. Based on your current weight and history of hernia repair with mesh, I would recommend that you consider immediate one stage reconstruction with a skin sparing mastectomy and gel implants or two stage with a tissue expander placement. This does not burn any bridges. Therefore, if your BMI drops to a safer level and the hernia repair does not... more

Paul S. Gill, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

High risk patient seeks natural breast reconstruction

I would strongly suggest that you request your surgical oncologist (the physician performing the prophylactic mastectomy) send you to a PS, with whom (s)he can work and offer you an immediate reconstruction, using either a) tissue expanders or b) one stage "direct to implant" with an Alloderm sling. Irregardless of which option is adopted, your PS should ideally mark your breasts for a "reduction" mammoplasty, so that the excess skin can be removed and the reconstructed... more

Lavinia Chong, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Breast reconstruction

Your obesity puts you at an increased risk for any kind of surgery but especially for surgery using your own tissue (DIEP or TRAM flaps). Your best bet would likely be bilateral tissue expander reconstruction and silicone gel implants. It is a shorter operation which also lessons your obesity-related risk factor.