Breast Reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction

Restore your ideal breast shape.

Breast Reconstruction Melbourne

Restore symmetry

Breast Reconstruction Surgery is usually performed either at the time of or following surgery for breast cancer. Sometimes it may be used to treat congenital (present from birth or puberty) defects.

The following information provides a very basic overview of the complexities of breast reconstructive surgery. What is most suitable for you, whilst incorporating your wishes, will be determined in your consultations with A/Prof White. 

Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Breast Reconstruction Melbourne

Reasons women undergo breast reconstruction

  • Restore your previous appearance.
  • “Feel like a woman again”.
  • “Put the cancer treatment behind me”.
  • “I want to be able to buy clothes and dress easily again”.
  • Proportionality.

Surgical Goals

  • YOUR SAFETY.
  • Durable reconstruction that feels like a breast, looks like a breast and ages like a normal breast.

From a reconstructive point of view, it may assist you to think about what goals are possible. The appearance of a reconstruction can be judged on the increasing levels of:

  • What you look like in clothes.
  • What you look like in bathers/underwear.
  • What you look like naked.

Implant

May start with a tissue expander which is usually a temporary product that is gradually filled over several weeks to maintain or stretch up the skin envelope/pocket (works in a similar way to a baby stretching the stomach!). This then would be switched to a formal implant with a more defined shape.

Relatively simple procedure, shorter surgery time.

Is a very good reconstruction and can look very good initially but doesn’t always necessarily age well (gets harder over time) due to scar tissue or “capsule” formation especially if you have had radiotherapy in the area, this may then need multiple surgeries for “maintenance” often 5-10 yearly.

Stays high whilst other side will drop with time so asymmetry may develop.

In breast cancer, patients may need coverage with back muscle (latissimus dorsi) especially in the setting of radiotherapy.

Soft Tissue (Autologous) Reconstruction i.e. using your own tissues

Essentially, we are looking for skin and fat to replace what has been affected by the previous surgery and/or radiotherapy and minimise taking other tissues such as muscle.

There is a span of breast reconstruction techniques which have developed over the last 30 years and have become more complex surgically in order to achieve good results with lesser donor site morbidities (after effects).

The best site for this usually is the abdomen (belly) – It is essentially the tissue that is removed and discarded during a tummy tuck Melbourne procedure (abdominoplasty).

First tier – Pedicle TRAM (Transposition of Rectus Abdominus Muscle) flap

Second tier – Free TRAM flap

Third Tier – DIEP flap

The tiers don’t necessarily imply a better reconstruction in any specific patient but are indicative of the complexity involved.

Other tissue donor sites can include – back, inner thigh and buttocks.

It is essential that you see and talk to your Melbourne plastic surgeon so they can outline what choices are technically possible in any one person and then in combination, a decision can be reached regarding the type of operation (if any) and timing.

Nipple reconstruction is often done at a later stage – this is a smaller, simple operation.

Influencing factors

Patient factors

Cancer factors

Contra-lateral side (i.e. the other breast)

If the other breast is considered clear of cancer, then reconstructive options may be incorporated for it also. It is not uncommon to have a breast reduction or breast lift (mastopexy) on this other side to maximise symmetry.

Future breast cancer detection

It has been shown that reconstructions do not interfere with the detection of new or recurring cancers.

Breast reconstruction surgery is a very challenging area of plastic surgery. Sometimes small revisions are necessary (or even incorporated into the initial plan) to achieve an excellent final result.

Breast Surgery Resources

Scroll to Top
Contact Us Call Now