Breast Reconstruction Conveniently located to serve San Ramon and San Francisco

Breast reconstruction may include correction of asymmetry from a birth defect, congenital condition, previous breast biopsies or surgery for breast cancer. Many options are available to women who require reconstruction from reconstruction at the time of their mastectomy to later procedures after they have completed their cancer therapies. These options include immediate permanent implants, tissue expanders and then implants and flaps using natural tissue such as the TRAM flap or latissimus dorsi flap. If you are in need of breast reconstruction in San Ramon, choose Dr. Michelle J. Place. Consultation with Dr. Place can provide information regarding the different options available, risks, and recovery times.

What Is Breast Reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction aims to restore the breasts’ former shape and size and reconstruct the nipples and areolae. Some patients choose to have their breasts reconstructed right after mastectomy, while others undergo a delayed reconstruction.

Am I A Good Candidate for Breast Reconstruction?

The ideal candidates for breast reconstruction are women who want to restore their breasts’ appearance, do not smoke or are willing to stop smoking, are cancer-free, and have coped well with mastectomy and cancer treatment. It is important to have realistic expectations in terms of results.

Individuals with diabetes or heart disease are at an increased risk during breast reconstruction surgery and are more prone to post-surgery complications, making them unfit for the procedure. These issues can be discussed during your consultation.

Your Breast Reconstruction Consultation

During the consultation, we will discuss your breast reconstruction options and show you before-and-after photos of women who have had the procedure. We will consider your overall health, body type, and cancer-treatment journey to determine the right option for you.

You can expect to learn more about what will happen during the procedure and what you should do before and after the surgery. Make sure to take note of the recommended diet, smoking cessation, what medicines and vitamins to stop taking, and what kind of care your breasts will need after the procedure.

The Procedure

The breast reconstruction process varies based on the details of the surgical plan. Generally, anesthesia will be administered for patient comfort, and incisions will be made in key areas.

If an implant is being placed, Dr. Place will place it between layers of muscles in the chest. However, women with tight chest muscles and skin might need tissue expanders before the implant is placed.

There are also tissue flap procedures to consider. Tissue flap surgeries will involve two surgical sites. One is in a spot where the source tissue was obtained, and another is on the breasts. These procedures reconstruct the breast using tissues obtained from the back, stomach, buttocks, or thighs. The TRAM flap uses stomach tissue, while the latissimus dorsi flap uses upper-back tissue.

Once the breast reconstruction procedure is complete, sutures will be used to close the incisions.

The Recovery Process

You might go home in 1-6 days after the surgery if there are no complications. You might feel sore and tired for a week or two or even longer if you had the tissue flap procedure. You will be prescribed medications to manage pain and discomfort. Surgical drains may be placed to remove excess fluid from the surgical sites.

To help your recovery, you must avoid any vigorous activities for 6-8 weeks after the procedure. You might need a support bra or elastic bandage to reduce swelling. Make sure to take the prescribed antibiotics to lower the risk of infection.

The Cost of Breast Reconstruction

Health insurance policies usually pay for most, if not all, of the breast reconstruction cost. Go over your policy to check the coverage and see if there are restrictions on certain types of breast reconstruction surgery. You will learn more about the price of the procedure during your consultation.

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