Patient - Breast Reconstruction

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Before

This lady was diagnosed with cancer in her right breast. She had both breasts removed (mastectomies) and immediate reconstruction. I marked her before surgery for a typical breast reduction-type of incision and removed both nipple/areolae. The surgeon then removed her breast tissue. I placed tissue expanders, closed her incisions, and put the nipple/areolae back on as grafts. Expanders are devices that I can slowly inflate in my office with a weekly visit by injecting some sterile saline into them via a built-in port, a 5 minute procedure. Once they are fully expanded, I can replace them at a second operation with permanent silicone gel implants. 

After

These photos were taken 7 months after completion of her reconstruction. Her final surgery was 5 months after the first. I used 800 cc Allergan Natrelle Inspira Style SCX smooth, round gel implants. What I love about this reconstruction is that the patient looks more like a breast reduction patient than a cancer reconstruction and everything is done in two operations. The nipple/areola grafts make for a better reconstruction than any artificially constructed nipple/areola. They sometimes do lose some pigmentation, but this is easily fixed with some medical tattooing, however, few patients feel the need for this. Her reconstructed breasts are very soft.