BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

The easiest way to build a new breast is to use a breast implant. However, often the tissue over the chest wall so tight that a single prosthesis implantation is not possible. You then need to have more skin in this area to allow the breast to be reconstructed and this can be achieved in a couple of different ways.

One method is to insert a tissue expander (a small silicone balloon) under the breast muscle, which will gradually get stretched out with saline solution by using a valve located under the skin. When tissues are stretched out, the balloon is replaced by a permanent implant. You can read more about breast augmentation here> Other options for providing the tissue needed for breast reconstruction is to take a flap of skin from another part of the body.

The use of breast implants is the simplest method of breast reconstruction, however in recent years fat grafting using the patient's own tissue to rebuild the breast has become increasingly more popular as a method of reconstruction among surgeons. If a small chest is to be built up so that an implant can be inserted or that one breast matches the size of the other, fat grafting may be an option. This can be done by using injections of fat cells taken from the stomach, to the breast area which bind and become part of the body again, thus increasing breast size.

One reason why choosing this method of reconstruction is increasing among surgeons is that the risk of complications from prosthesis implantation is significant enhancement of thoracic tissue has been irradiated after breast cancer surgery. This risk does not exist when using the woman's own tissue. Another advantage is that the new breast is soft and has more symmetry with the natural non-surgical breast.

If the nipple removed in relation to breast cancer surgery, a new nipple is created. Our actual knob can be done in different ways. Either half of our knob on the remaining breast moved to the operated side, or small skin tags can also be cut on the reconstructed breast at the site of our knob and swayed around each other in order to have a protruding knob. One can also build our bud of tissue from the ear lobe or a toe. 
 
 After our bud rebuilt themselves can areola is created, either with skin graft from the inner thigh, or by borrowing some of the skin from the second breast areola. More common today is the creation colored skin of the areola with tattooing techniques, medical tattooing, by adding brown colour of the areola area who then tattooed into the skin. This gives a very natural appearance of the new nipple and areola.

Unlike regular breast augmentation surgery are normally only built up one breast with an implant. This results many times in the new breast will be slightly firmer and rounder in shape than the natural non-surgical breast. Therefore, you always have a certain asymmetry after the reconstruction of only one side of chest.

If you have any questions about breast reconstruction which were not addressed here, or if you would like to book a consultation with the consultant plastic surgeon to discuss treatment options for you, please call 01 491 5738, email info@aestheticinstitute.ie or complete our Enquiry Form.