Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy
Operation Description
Breast reconstruction after mastectomy is a surgical procedure aimed at restoring the appearance and contours of the breast or breasts after mastectomy. There are two types of breast reconstruction: primary when it is performed simultaneously with mastectomy, and secondary, when reconstruction is done separately sometime after mastectomy. Additionally, the procedure varies in the method used, employing either silicone implants or reconstruction using the patient's tissue.
If you have undergone a mastectomy and wish to restore the appearance of your breast or breasts, schedule a consultation at Colić Hospital at +38169 3699801. Our professional medical team awaits you to explain all the details related to this procedure. It is our mission to make you feel secure and meet your expectations.
Preparation
Breast reconstruction surgery requires specific preparatory steps. As the intervention is performed under general anesthesia, laboratory tests and an internist examination with an ECG recording are necessary. Additionally, an oncologist's opinion on performing this procedure is required.
It is advisable to quit smoking one month before the surgery and stop taking aspirin and herbal supplements that may affect blood coagulation two weeks before.
Operation time
If mastectomy is performed using implants, compensating for the skin deficiency caused by mastectomy is almost always necessary before their placement. This can be done using tissue expanders or by placing Becker's prostheses (permanent expanders). Depending on the amount of missing skin and tissue, the expander is placed either under or above the chest muscle. If there is insufficient tissue, the expander will be filled with a saline solution over the next 2-3 weeks, and implant placement occurs after 2-3 months. If there is enough skin and tissue, the expander can be placed above the chest muscle and immediately filled to the appropriate degree, followed by implant placement. Whether one or both breasts are removed, implants are placed in both breasts for symmetry. This method is somewhat simpler, resulting in an implant placement duration of around one and a half hours.
Breast reconstruction using the patient's tissue is a good option for patients seeking natural results. Tissue is transplanted from the abdomen, back, buttocks, or upper thighs, depending on the surgeon's assessment and patient preference. Another option is using tissue near the breast if there is usable tissue, and the last option is fat transfer performed by liposuction from other parts of the body and injected into the breasts using the lipofilling technique. As this method is more demanding, the operation duration can be up to several hours. If one breast is reconstructed, it is possible to perform a lift or reduction of the other breast to achieve symmetry.
Recovery
After the operation, the patient stays overnight at the hospital. The recovery from breast reconstruction varies for each patient, but in most cases, patients can return to their daily activities within 4-6 weeks. During the recovery period, the patient wears a special bra to hold the implants in place. After 2 weeks, when the incision wound is fully healed, the patient returns for stitches removal.
Immediately after the operation, there may be pain, swelling, bruising, a feeling of pressure in the chest, temporary nipple sensitivity disturbance, and difficulty breathing. These symptoms are expected and gradually improve, usually completely resolving within a week or two or being regulated by medication if necessary.
Safety precautions
Potential complications in breast reconstruction using implants are nearly the same as those in breast augmentation surgery. This includes possible complications such as infection, bleeding, swelling, and unwanted reactions to anesthesia. With the top-notch team at Colić Hospital, these complications are rare, and by following our preoperative and postoperative advice, it is possible to completely avoid these risks.
In some cases, after implant placement, there may be the occurrence of capsular contracture, leading to changes in shape and a feeling of discomfort and pain in the breasts. Capsular contracture occurs when the tissue around the implant forms a scar that may cause thickening, and the patient should promptly consult their surgeon.
Patients need to consider that changes in body weight can affect the appearance of the reconstructed breast or breasts, so it is crucial to be cautious to avoid significant weight fluctuations.
Price
The cost of breast reconstruction after mastectomy at Colić Special Hospital ranges from 4500 to 9000 euros. The services included in the breast reconstruction cost after mastectomy are:
- Preoperative examination by an anesthesiologist
- The operation itself
- Short hospital stay
- Necessary medications
- Postoperative check-ups and dressings
- Stitches removal
What is not included in the procedure costs are the initial examination with the doctor, blood and ECG tests, specialist examinations outside the hospital, pre-hospital admission costs, phone costs, and medications taken at home before or after the procedure, as well as the bra worn after the operation.
