Two options for breast surgery are available: Breast reconstruction can be performed with implants or with your own tissue. For an autologous reconstruction, the doctor can use the woman's lower abdominal wall segment or back muscle and fat to create new breast tissue. A woman may also be eligible for a nipple sparing or skin-sparing breastectomy. Both methods can cause scarring. Therefore, breast surgeries are not for everyone.
Breast reduction surgery
Most breast reduction surgeries are performed as outpatient procedures. After the procedure, the patient may experience some swelling and discoloration, but the swelling will eventually disappear. Sutures and bandages will be removed in a few days and the patient should not resume strenuous activities for about a month. The initial recovery period for a breast reduction can be uncomfortable. However, breasts will begin to look more natural and soften over time. You will see results six months to one year later.
Following surgery, the surgeon will make incisions along the natural breast crease. These incisions are used to remove excess skin and fat. Some women may also have their areolae raised. The surgeon will close off the incision by using dissolvable external and internal sutures. The surgical recovery period may require an overnight stay. Afterwards, the patient will be released from the hospital. It may take up to five hours for the entire operation to be completed.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy
A Nipple Sparing Mastectomy is an alternative to radiotherapy for breast carcinoma. This procedure preserves the patient's natural looking breast while avoiding the risks associated with radiation treatment. While not all women who have this procedure will choose to avoid radiation, around 30% of cases that undergo a full mastectomy may not need radiation treatment. This surgery is an option for women who have large or small breasts.
This type of surgery, though not easily accessible, is very effective. This type of surgery preserves all of the breast skin including the nipple as well as the darker circles of skin around it. The NSM is typically followed by a breast reconstruction. While it is not commonly used for mastectomy, it is becoming a more popular option to traditional breast cancer treatments. Its benefits outweigh their disadvantages.
Mastectomy to save skin
A skin-sparing mastectomy refers to a surgery in which all of breast skin is preserved, with the exception of the nipple, areola and nipple. This allows the surgeon not to scare the breast. The surgeon will use a flap or implant to replace the lost volume. There are two types: the TRAM or Latissimus skin-sparing mastopexy. Both use the tissue and muscle of the breast to reconstruct it.
There are a number of advantages of skin-sparing mastectomy, including the preservation of the inframammary fold and native skin envelope. By preserving the native skin layer and the inframammaryfold, the procedure can improve the cosmetic outcomes of the breast reconstruction. This reduces the need to perform contralateral symmetrizing. However, skin-sparing matectomies can pose a few risks.
Modified radical mastectomy
Modified radical mastectomy is a good option if you are worried about the risks associated with a mastectomy. A modified radical mastectomy is less invasive than a full-thickness, conventional mastectomy. It removes the breast, most lymph nodes, and the lining above the chest muscles. This type of surgery also preserves breast tissue. But, not all surgeons have the training to perform these types. It is important to consult your doctor before you decide which type of surgery to have.
Most hospitals have adopted a traditional, modified radical mastectomy. However, it is not widely used. Traditional modified radical mastectomy techniques focus on protecting the intercostobrachial and anterior thoracic nervous systems. The aim is to preserve these nerves for pure sensory functions. These techniques are very similar to the ones used in Patey's, Meyer's, Halsted and Meyer. Moore61 described one such approach in 1867.