Patient - Breast Reconstruction

« Return To Breast Reconstruction

Click on an image below to see a larger version.

Before

This nice lady had undergone treatment of cancer of her right breast with a lumpectomy and radiation. The radiation was done using a technique called SAVI in which the radiation is placed directly into the cavity where the cancer was. This can limit the area exposed to radiation but can also, as in her case, cause delayed healing and severe scarring. She had to have hyperbaric oxygen therapy for several weeks to help healing and was left with a very disfigured breast, just what lumpectomy and radiation are intended to avoid. This is the most challenging type of case for reconstruction because the effects of radiation are far reaching and permanent. 

She is here shown with an expanded tissue expander in place. Notice how tight and scarred the breast is below the nipple. To get her to here we also used several sessions of ultrasound therapy to try to soften the scar tissue. 

After

She is shown 6 months after replacing her tissue expander with a 300 cc Mentor round, smooth, moderate profile plus silicone gel implant. An identical implant was put in on the left as well. While she still has some slight contour issues on the right, the result looks much better and both breasts are very soft. Radiation poses perhaps the greatest challenge to successful breast reconstruction.