With so much to think about after a breast cancer diagnosis, many patients facing mastectomy do not fully understand how the timing of breast reconstruction influences how the reconstructed breasts will ultimately look.
Breast reconstruction can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy ("immediate reconstruction") or a while after mastectomy ("delayed reconstruction").
When the mastectomy and reconstruction are performed at the same time, a skin-sparing mastectomy can usually be performed which saves the majority of the natural breast skin envelope (except for the nipple and areola). Only the actual breast tissue under the skin is removed. The reconstruction then "fills" this empty skin envelope. In some select cases nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed. This preserves the nipple and areola as well as the breast skin.
Skin-sparing (or nipple-sparing) mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction produce the most "natural" results with the least scarring. Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction is therefore preferred whenever possible and should be the goal for breast cancer patients with early disease (stage I or II).
Delayed reconstruction unfortunately leaves more scarring (typically) and the final breast is less likely to look like the breasts Mother Nature provided. Common reasons to delay reconstruction include advanced breast cancer (stage III or IV), inflammatory breast cancer, the plan for radiation therapy after mastectomy, and lack of access to a reconstructive surgeon.
The difference in scarring between immediate and delayed breast reconstruction can be seen in these breast reconstruction before and after photos.
Ultimately the priority must always be "life before breast" - obviously the breast cancer treatment comes first in terms of priority. However, all other things being equal, there will sometimes be a choice to be made between having the reconstruction performed with the mastectomy or some time after the mastectomy. Whenever possible, I encourage women to seek immediate reconstruction for the best cosmetic results.
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Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in the latest breast reconstruction techniques including the DIEP flap procedure. He and his partners perform over 500 DIEP flap procedures per year and are In-Network for most US insurance plans. Learn more about your breast reconstruction options and connect with other breast reconstruction patients here. You can also follow Dr C on Twitter!
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Showing posts with label delayed breast reconstruction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label delayed breast reconstruction. Show all posts
Monday, October 18, 2010
Monday, April 14, 2008
DIEP Flap Reconstruction And Breast Cancer Recurrence
Can DIEP flap breast reconstruction prevent detection of breast cancer recurrence? This is a very important issue that is often not discussed.
A handful of studies have shown that breast reconstruction (with any reconstructive technique) does not impact local recurrence or long term survival in patients with early breast cancer (stage I and II). The rate of local recurrence and length of survival is the same in patients with stage I and II disease whether they undergo immediate breast reconstruction (ie reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy) or not. For this reason most institutions (including ours) offer breast cancer patients with early disease immediate breast reconstruction whenever possible.
Patients diagnosed with advanced disease are more likely to be candidates for delayed breast reconstruction once they have undergone mastectomy, completed their cancer treatment and remained disease free for several months.
Breast reconstruction (with a DIEP flap or any other method) does not encourage or enhance breast cancer recurrence or shorten long term survival in any way.
Dr C
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Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including DIEP flap reconstruction. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.
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A handful of studies have shown that breast reconstruction (with any reconstructive technique) does not impact local recurrence or long term survival in patients with early breast cancer (stage I and II). The rate of local recurrence and length of survival is the same in patients with stage I and II disease whether they undergo immediate breast reconstruction (ie reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy) or not. For this reason most institutions (including ours) offer breast cancer patients with early disease immediate breast reconstruction whenever possible.
Patients diagnosed with advanced disease are more likely to be candidates for delayed breast reconstruction once they have undergone mastectomy, completed their cancer treatment and remained disease free for several months.
Breast reconstruction (with a DIEP flap or any other method) does not encourage or enhance breast cancer recurrence or shorten long term survival in any way.
Dr C
******
Dr Chrysopoulo is board certified in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and specializes in breast reconstruction surgery after mastectomy for breast cancer. He and his partners perform hundreds of microsurgical breast reconstructions with perforator flaps each year including DIEP flap reconstruction. PRMA Plastic Surgery, San Antonio, Texas. Toll Free: (800) 692-5565. Keep up to date with the latest breast reconstruction news by following Dr Chrysopoulo's Breast Reconstruction Blog.
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