- Video
- What Are My Breast Augmentation Options if I've Already Had Radiation?
{{ showTranscript ? 'HIDE' : 'SHOW' }} TRANSCRIPT
If you've already had radiation treatment, you still have a lot of options for reconstruction. Because radiation increases the risk of scar tissue around the implant, we generally don't recommend implant-only reconstruction following radiation, because we don't want you to come back with a hardened rock-hard breast because of the scar tissue that forms around the implant.
Usually after radiation treatment, we will recommend some form of atologous reconstruction using your own tissue.
Our procedure of choice is using the excess skin and fat in the lower abdominal area with a DIEP or deep flap procedure to restore your breast after radiation treatment.
The reason why we like to recommend this atologous reconstruction, using our tissue, is that bringing that new tissue to the radiated chest wall, brings new soft, supple tissue, new blood supply, and potential new healing potential to a radiated chest wall.
If you're not a candidate for deep flap surgery, another good alternative is using the latissimus flap, or tissue from your back to also bring in new skin, new tissue, new blood supply, and potentially new healing potential to the radiated chest wall.
What Are My Breast Augmentation Options if I've Already Had Radiation?
Dr. Bob Basu discusses how radiation increases the risks of scar tissue and what options you have to improve your Breast Reconstruction results.