Purpose

To recreate a new breast mould at the site of the resected breast to achieve a symmetrical appearance inside the clothes.  

Details

Can be done either at the time of breast cancer resection, i.e. primary, or, subsequently as a secondary procedure, i.e. secondary.

The two most often used alternatives are:

a)             Tissues including skin, fat and muscle are harvested from the lower abdomen and transferred to the chest wall defect. A staged nipple-areolar complex can be further fashioned after several months after the new breast mould has taken its final shape. There is always a possibility of transferred tissues not surviving well although this is not common in experienced hands. Scars can be unsightly and the skin of the reconstructed area is not sensate;

b)             An expander implant is inserted so that a course of progressive saline injection in the post-operative period inflates the implant to the correct size. Implant insertion is smaller in magnitude an undertaking than using autogenous tissues but the final appearance is often not as natural and the method carries all the potential hazards of implant insertion such as infection, capsular contracture, leakage and rupture. 

Result

It is unrealistic to expect that others cannot tell a reconstructed breast when undressed although sometimes results can resemble a real breast quite satisfactorily. 

Caution

Breast reconstruction is not an inevitable part of breast cancer treatment. Different patients may vary in their views as to whether the additional procedure is warranted. Potential patients should discussed with medical personnel their concerns and wishes.