October is breast cancer awareness month, and while we all want to do our part to encourage and remind women to get their annual mammograms, we also pay homage to the women who have fought and survived the disease. Women who have already survived breast cancer are often the biggest advocates of early screening, and so many of them play a large role in furthering the research into preventing more breast cancer in the future. Many women who have survived breast cancer and have scars or had to have a mastectomy are good candidates for breast reconstruction surgery.
What Is Breast Reconstruction Surgery?
Breast reconstruction surgery is a procedure designed to create a natural-looking breast and nipple. Age is not a factor in whether or not a woman is a good candidate for breast reconstruction surgery as long as she is in relatively good health, the cancer is stable, and no further radiation treatments are required. Breast reconstructions can either be performed using an implant or by using skin, fat, and muscle from another part of the body, called an autologous-tissue breast reconstruction. Usually what determines which approach is used depends on how much tissue is left in the breast area and whether or not the patient wants implants. If you are a smoker, have other health issues, or are obese, your plastic surgeon may ask you to resolve some of your health issues prior to the surgery.
Breast Reconstruction Considerations
Breast reconstruction surgery can give you the aesthetics you desire, but there are factors to consider. First, most reconstructed breasts have little or no sensitivity due to the damage done to the nerves by the cancer or the mastectomy. Second, in order to achieve symmetry, the breast reconstruction may require that you have surgery on your remaining breast to make it a little larger or a little small than what you had originally.
With years of training and experience performing facial plastic surgery, our surgeons have the expertise required to provide you with the beautiful results you want. To learn more about breast reconstruction surgery in Salt Lake City and how it can help to improve your appearance and restore your confidence, you can request a consultation online or call our office at (801) 937-9650. We are eager to meet you and help you on your aesthetic journey.