Breast reconstruction describes the aspect of plastic surgery used to repair or replace damaged, diseased, lost or surgically removed breasts. This is an industry that is crucial to the emotional and psychological welfare of all women who are affected by an injured or missing breast. Surgical reconstruction of the breast can be a miraculous process which has been perfected by the most brilliant minds in the plastic surgery field.
This resource section covers every aspect of reconstruction mammoplasty in the topical articles detailed below.
Breast Reconstruction Indications
Repairing damaged or missing breasts has become one of the most widely practiced plastic surgery procedures. The most common reasons for a woman to undergo reconstructive mammary surgery is to repair damage caused by some violent traumatic injury, construct a breast which never developed, replace breast tissue which has been removed via mastectomy or reconstruct tissue which was removed due to some other disorder, such as treatment resistant breast hypertrophy.
Although the physical reasons to undergo a reconstructive breast operation vary from patient to patient, the emotional concerns are likely to be universal.
Breast Repair Topics
Breast reconstruction surgery can fix multiple causes of breast trauma and almost universally enjoys coverage by most health insurance plans.
Reconstruction procedures range from implant-based techniques to operations that utilize only organic harvested tissue.
Reconstructive breast surgery is a niche specialty of the plastic surgery sector that facilitates full healing of mind and body after injury or disease.
Mastectomy reconstruction can rebuild a breast after removal as a treatment for cancer, hypertrophy or other problematic concern.
Natural reconstruction methods, such as the TRAM flap and the latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap techniques do not require implants for most patients. The tummy tuck reconstruction approach is very popular, since it accomplishes 2 surgical goals at once.
Free tissue graft reconstruction is the riskiest of the organic tissue reconstruction methods.
Reconstruction mammoplasty is the technical medical term for breast organ reconstruction.
Unilateral breast reconstruction is performed on only 1 breast on the left or right side.
Bilateral breast reconstruction is performed on both breasts.
Reconstruction complications might occur in some patients. This is why it is vital to understand and accept all potential reconstruction risks before undergoing surgery.
Reconstruction without implants definitely has some advantages, but many doctors feel that reconstruction with implants still provides the most realistic results aesthetically.
Reconstruction specialists usually concentrate on particular types of reparative breast surgery.
In order to fully rate the benefits of reconstruction, both mind and body rewards must be considered. We also have a follow up report on the pros and cons of mammary reconstruction to help women to make informed decisions.
Want the best results from reconstruction mammoplasty? We can help!
Breast Reconstruction Psychology
The loss of a breast is one of the worst possible scenarios for any woman. Losing a breast at a young age, when childrearing is still a concern, can be doubly traumatic. Women consider their breasts an important part of their feminine gender identity and symbols of fertility, sensuality and physical beauty.
Women who are deprived of a breast must endure far more than the physical loss; they must also suffer psychoemotional conditions which can affect their personality, social interactions, self image and future development. Overcoming the loss is key to moving on with life and a reconstructive breast operation will help facilitate the recovery process, by rebuilding what injury, disease or nature has taken away.
Breast Reconstruction Emotions
It takes extreme courage to face the physical and emotional hardship of losing a breast. Women who have traveled this road of pain and suffering have been strengthened by the process, but not hardened by it. It is important to experience the loss and feel the emotions which well up inside. Denying the importance of these feelings is very dangerous, since it sets the stage for the development of common emotional and psychosomatic ailments often associated with repressed anger, fear and pain.
Breast repair surgery can be a crucial part of your recovery program. You might choose to have a reconstruction immediately after losing a breast or you might choose to wait. The surgical time line is a personal choice which might be dictated by health-related circumstances involved in ongoing treatment for any problematic condition. The real issue to keep in mind is that reconstruction is available and will make a huge difference in your life.
There are many alternative options when considering breast reconstruction without implants. We detail all of these choices in our wonderful book: Better Breasts Without Surgery. You can get the book from anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, for immediate assistance.
To learn more about the specific ways reconstruction will benefit you, talk to a qualified plastic surgeon near you.
