Mastectomy is often required for women who have experienced cancer, certain illnesses, or medical conditions, or after experiencing severe trauma that affects the breast. Breast reconstruction can be scheduled after a mastectomy to restore natural-looking breasts, which helps support patients’ mental and emotional health, improve their body image, and boost their confidence in their overall appearance.
How Breast Reconstruction Can Renew Body Image and Self-Image
Restoring the Breasts
Whether it’s a surgery, injury to the breasts, or another medical condition that requires that you undergo a mastectomy, one thing remains: losing one or both of your breasts can be very damaging to your body image and mental and emotional health.
One of the benefits of this reconstructive breast surgery is that it’s completely customizable, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to the procedure. Plastic surgeons will work with each patient to design the right treatment plan to restore the most natural-looking breasts and, in doing so, restore their confidence.
Enhancing the Breasts
Not only will this procedure restore natural-looking breasts after a mastectomy, but it can also help you achieve the breasts you’ve always wanted. Your surgeon, when customizing your procedure, will give you more details about autologous reconstruction and alloplastic reconstruction. If you choose to get implants, you’ll be able to achieve your ideal breast size, shape, and body proportions.
You’ll also look and feel feminine in clothing and feel confident about your body. After this procedure, you’ll have natural-looking breasts that will suit your frame and will be completely proportional to your body.
Understanding the Options
The first step in this process is to meet with a surgeon who will help you determine the best reconstruction option based on your needs and preferences. There are two primary types of reconstructive breast surgeries you can choose from: alloplastic and autologous reconstruction. Both restore natural-looking breasts and have their advantages.
Autologous Reconstruction
Autologous reconstruction uses the patient’s own tissue to reconstruct the breasts after removal. Within this category of reconstruction, there are several options to choose from. Flap reconstruction is a type of autologous reconstruction in which skin and fat are taken from the abdomen, the back, or the buttocks to naturally increase breast volume and deliver natural results.
A fat transfer is another autologous reconstruction option in which fat cells are harvested from the abdomen and transplanted into the breasts to restore natural volume to the area. Click here for more information.
Alloplastic Reconstruction
Patients who opt for alloplastic reconstruction to restore their natural breasts can choose from different options, like expander reconstruction, in which surgeons use expanders and implants to reconstruct the breasts, and immediate implant reconstruction, in which the surgeon completes a breast augmentation procedure.
During the pre-surgical consultation process, your surgeon will give you more information about the available implants, the benefits of silicone and saline, and what you can expect your final results to look like so that you have realistic expectations about the surgery and your results.
If you’re ready to learn more about this surgery that will reconstruct your breasts, the first step is to schedule a consultation with an experienced surgeon.
