Can I Have Plastic Surgery to Fix a Lumpectomy Depression Before Having Radiation?

asked 5 months ago by Sueesquisite in Commack,NY
Latest answer by Tito Vasquez, MD
Question viewed 229 times
Tags: 2 months post-op, chemotherapy, depression, lumpectomy, options, radiation

I had a lumpectomy and re-excision on one breast about 8 weeks ago. I am currently having chemotherapy and am scheduled to begin radiation in April. The area around the incision is flatter than before, and I am concerned that after radiation the area will become even flatter and be cosmetically unacceptable. Assuming that my post-chemotherapy mammogram is fine, is it possible to have plastic surgery to correct the depression before radiation? I know that after radiation, it may be too late.

7 answers to Can I Have Plastic Surgery to Fix a Lumpectomy Depression Before Having Radiation?

It is best to wait until after radiation to correct post-lumpectomy deformity.

Hi. 1) I understand your thinking. The good new is that the flat area can be corrected, either with fat injections, or with a local flap. But this reconstruction should be done several months after radiation is over. If you do it before, the radiation usually causes atrophy and hardness of the reconstructed tissue. 2) It is also true that doing reconstruction on a radiated breast is more difficult, but in your situation, it is by far the lesser of... more

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Radiation and breast deformity

You should really wait to undergo any form of breast reconstruction until you have recovered fromthe radiation treatment. This may take a year or more for the skin to settle down.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

You need to wait 3-6 months after radiation tx before doing corrective surgery

Your breast tissue will change after radiation and depression will get worse. If the treatment done before radiation, the radiation will damage the tissue and cause complication. You will need in person consultation with aboard certified plastic surgeon before you start radiation. If you are candidate for implant reconstruction, you should get tissue expander before starting radiation to prevent scaring down. If you are candidate for fat grafting or flap breast reconstruction,you should wait... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Lumpectomy deformity timing with Radiation.

It is certainly possible to have a breast deformity after lumpectomy, even though it is considered breast conservation surgery. There are a variety of plastic surgery reconstructive procedures that may be of help including transfer of tissues used in postmastectomy breast reconstruction as well as fat grafting. In many cases, however, it would be preferable to have radiation first and see how the tissues respond to the radiation and then tailor the reconstructive procedures... more

Stephen Delia, M.D.
Boston Plastic Surgeon

Post lumpectomy deformity

Fixing post lumpectomy depressions or deformities usually involves bringing in tissue from another part of the body either via fat grafting or a tissue flap. Most plastic surgeons, myself included, would prefer to wait until after your radiation therapy is complete in order to do a more accurate assessment of your deformity and what will be needed to correct it. Hope this helps!

Marcel Daniels, MD
Long Beach Plastic Surgeon

Correction of lumpectomy defects

There are real pros and cons to correcting lumpectomy defects prior to surgery. One of the main problems of reconstruction or breast surgery prior to radiation is that it can delay therapy aimed at abolishing any remaining potential cancer cells. Now that you are already 8 weeks post lumpectomy, reconstruction at this point will delay therapy even longer. Therefore in your situation, I would recommend completing your radiation and waiting until your surgeon recommends that... more

Tito Vasquez, MD
Southport Plastic Surgeon

Oncoplastic reconstruction before

Yes, oncoplastic breast surgery can be and should be performed prior to radiation therapy. Once the radiation is done, it can be very difficult to correct. Discuss with your doctors to see if you have a window of opportunity between chemo and radiation therapy to get oncoplasty. Bear in mind, however, than any complications that you may have can delay your radiation treatments and compromise the effective treatment of your breast cancer.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

www.mc.vanderbilt.edu

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