JOHN M. TAYLOR MD, FACS
LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY
732.483.1800
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BREAST RECONSTRUCTION USING IMPLANTS
Breast reconstruction using prosthetic breast implants is a very common reconstruction option chosen by women after mastectomies. Breast implants are shaped pouches that are placed under a layer of chest muscle to create the shape of a breast. The outside shell of the implant is made of silicone rubber and is filled with either saline (sterile salt solution) or silicone gel. These products have been determined by the FDA to be safe and effective.
The process of breast reconstruction using implants usually involves two stages. During the first surgery, usually at the time of mastectomy, a tissue expander is placed in a pocket beneath the pectoralis major muscle. Dr. Taylor also covers the expander with a layer of donor tissue to provide additional protection over the implant. This initial surgery takes approximately 2-3 hours. At the end of this surgery the area of the chest undergoing reconstruction will still be flat. In addition, there are different types of mastectomies that can be performed that will affect the cosmetic results, including skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomies.
Approximately 2 weeks after the placement of the tissue expanders, the process of tissue expansion will begin. During weekly or biweekly office visits, sterile saline will be injected into the tissue expander. These expansions stretch the overlying skin and enlarge the implant pocket to accommodate the size of the final implant. This process is quick and is not painful. Muscle relaxants are prescribed to offer relief if the patient should experience any muscle spasms after the expansion. The length of time until completion of expansion depends on the patient’s tolerance (again, we like to keep this pain-free), and desired final breast size.
Approximately two months after the desired volume is reached, the patient will undergo the second surgery. During this surgery, the expander is removed and a breast implant is inserted in its place. This out-patient surgery lasts about 2 hours. Dr. Taylor strictly adheres to sterile technique as well as taking additional surgical precautions to avoid any chances of contamination. Patients are given prescribed oral medication for pain, oral muscle relaxants for muscle spasm and antibiotics to prevent infection with each surgery.
A support bra is worn to help support and position the breasts. Drainage tubes, if used, are removed in a few days. If the nipple was not conserved during the mastectomy then nipple reconstruction can be performed as an out-patient procedure 6-8 weeks after the second surgery. The nipple-areola complex can be tattooed in the office soon thereafter. The final results restore natural looking breasts and return a shapelier female silhouette.
Please note that this process can begin immediately at the time of the mastectomy or can be performed as a delayed reconstruction, done even years after a mastectomy. So whether you are newly diagnosed with breast cancer or if you had a mastectomy some time ago, find out if breast reconstruction using implants is an option for you. Call the office today to make your appointment for a personalized consultation with Dr. John Taylor.
