Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

QUESTION: Despite all my precautions and frequent checkups, I was found to
have breast cancer about a year ago, and had to have my breast removed. At
that time, I only thought of ridding myself of the disease, but now my
thoughts have turned to the possibility of plastic repair. What are my odds
of having things a bit like they were before?
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ANSWER: Plastic repair, or more correctly breast reconstruction, holds real
promise for anyone who has gone through the trial of breast cancer surgery.
The odds are making all as it was depends upon several factors, including the
type of operation, the extent of the surgery, the method of reconstruction
that may be useful in your case, and to a great extent your own expectations
and feelings about what might be considered as cosmetically acceptable. The
discussions you must have with your own surgeon should be based upon a full
understanding of the procedure, and what achievements may reasonably be
expected. If you hold your hopes too high, your odds of being satisfied after
all is done may swing against you. The most common and frequently performed
technique uses a silicone implant to replace lost tissue. It requires that
there be a sufficient amount of skin and other tissue available to cover the
implant, and provide a natural appearance. When there is too little tissue to
permit this approach, a hollow prosthesis may be inserted. Fluid is injected
into this bladder like device over time, increasing its size and making space
for a permanent implant to be placed later. A third, more costly and
difficult procedure uses muscle and tissue from other parts of the body,
buttocks, abdomen or back to construct a living breast that may look quite
natural. This operation is called the free flap approach, and requires a bit
of time to accomplish. All methods are useful in responding to the desires of
patients such as yourself to put things back "a bit like they were before".