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Baltimore Breast Reconstruction
- Breast Reconstruction
Indications:
- Mastectomy patients whose cancer, as far as can be determined, seems to have been eliminated.
Intended Result:
- To restore the form and appearance of a natural looking breast.
- To improve appearance, self confidence and overall quality of life.
Procedure Description:
- Skin Expansion - This is the most common technique
which combines expanding the skin and inserting an implant. After the
mastectomy, Dr. Cohen will insert a balloon expander beneath the skin
and chest muscle. Through a small valve mechanism buried under the
skin, he will gradually (over several weeks or months) inject a
salt-water solution to fill the expander. Once the skin is sufficiently
stretched, the expander may be removed, in a subsequent operation, and
replaced with a more permanent implant. Some expanders are designed to
be left in place as the final implant. Nipple and the areola are
reconstructed in a separate procedure.
- Flap Reconstruction - This involves the creation of a skin
flap using tissue taken from another part of the body. Depending on the
type of flap surgery, the tissue can remain attached to its blood
supply, and with the accompanying skin, fat and muscle can be tunneled
beneath the skin to the chest. Or a microvascular flap can be used with
skin from the abdomen, buttocks or thighs, and once transplanted, the
blood vessels are reconnected to the new ones in that region.
Length of Procedure:
- A breast reconstruction procedure takes anywhere from one to six hours, depending on what option is chosen.
- Most breast reconstruction involves more than one procedure, with the first procedure usually taking the most time.
Recovery & Aftercare:
- Patients usually require a surgical drain to remove excess
fluids from the surgical sites immediately following surgery. These
drains are typically removed within the first week or two.
- Patients may remain in the hospital for anywhere from two to five days.
- Most sutures are removed within a week to ten days.
- It may take up to six weeks to recover from a combined mastectomy and reconstruction.
- If implants are used without flaps and reconstruction is done at a
later date than the actual mastectomy, recovery time may be
considerably less.
Insurance Guidelines:
- Breast reconstruction is usually deemed a medically indicated
surgical procedure. Our office will work with your insurance company to
determine the scope of your benefits.
Additional Procedures:
- Nipple and areola reconstruction are done separately. *Please discuss this option with the doctor.
**NOTE: The specific risks and the suitability of this procedure for
any given individual can only be determined through a consultation with
the plastic surgeon.
To schedule your consultation, contact The Cosmetic Surgery Center of Maryland at 410-296-0414.
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