Mastectomy with Breast Reconstruction

Immediate: You have chosen to have breast reconstruction at the time of mastectomy.

1. Skin sparing mastectomy: where most of the skin of your breast will be preserved.
2. Nipple sparing mastectomy: In suitable cases, the nipple may be preserved if tissue from the base of the nipple shows no cancer cells when tested at the time of surgery, But if the final histology results show cancer cells behind the nipple, you will be recommended a simple surgery to remove it.

Delayed: Breast reconstruction may also be done at a later stage, separate from the initial breast surgery.

Types of Breast Reconstruction

Flap Reconstruction

• Skin, fat and sometimes muscle (a flap) from another part of your body may be used to make it into a breast shape.
• The operation duration is about 6 - 8 hours.
• Hospital stay is between 1 - 2 weeks.Several drains are used and removed after 1 - 2 weeks.
• Flaps may be from the:
  1. Back (latissimus dorsi)
  2. Abdomen
     • TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous) flap
     • DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap, taking skin and fat only
  3. Buttock/Thigh

Breast Implants

Silicone implants may be used to create a new breast.

• The operation duration is about 4 - 5 hours.
• Usually there are 2 - 3 drainage bottles inserted.
• Hospital stay is 3 - 5 days.
• 1-stage: The permanent implant is inserted at the time of mastectomy.
• 2-stage: A temporary expander may be placed at time of mastectomy, and gradually expanded to stretch the skin and the expander is exchanged for a permanent implant at a later surgery.