Plastic Surgery in San Francisco- Breast Reconstruction

There are many techniques available to reconstruct a breast following mastectomy. All of the techniques described here can be performed at the time of mastectomy. This is referred to as "immediate" breast reconstruction. Immediate breast reconstruction saves the patient at least one subsequent operation, and has been shown to have a significant psychological benefit, as the patient never experiences a mastectomy defect.

Breast Reconstruction is one of the most challenging and rewarding areas of plastic surgery in San Francisco. Dr. Kind is one of a very few surgeons performing the deep inferior epigastric perforator or DIEP flap for breast reconstruction. This technique allows for the breast to be reconstructed with the patient's own tissues, without the loss of any muscle.

It is always an excellent idea to do your research and seek out a qualified, skilled and experienced specialist like Plastic Surgeon In San Francisco Dr Kind to help answer your questions and understand the plastic surgery procedure fully before having the surgery.

If you are considering a plastic surgery procedure such as Breast Reconstruction, make sure you do your research and consult with a specialist prior to having the surgery procedure. Making sure you fully understand the procedure, the risks involved and having all of your questions answered beforehand can mean the difference between a successful procedure and a surgery nightmare. There are a lot of great information rich websites on the internet. One really informative website is lookingyourbest.com. This free site provides a wealth of plastic surgery information. This site even offers a free service to help locate a qualified plastic surgeon in your area.

Woman Who Need A Mastectomy Often Choose To Have Breast Reconstruction

Any woman that is facing a removal of a breast also faces another difficult decision, the timing of and the desire for reconstructive breast surgery. While the procedure can be performed many years following breast cancer surgery, recent advances encourage patients to undergo simultaneous mastectomy and reconstruction. Simultaneous breast reconstruction offers several distinct emotional advantages: the avoidance of a non-reconstructed breast, a reduced period of postoperative discouragement in appearance, the avoidance of potentially unnatural appearing breast implants, and an improved sense of self-confidence and self-esteem. According to Dr. Hoefflin, a Los Angeles plastic surgeon, having the procedure performed simultaneously also offers several surgical advantages: preservation of native breast skin on the reconstructed breast, greater symmetry in shape and volume, and the avoidance of another major general anesthetic procedure.

Breast Reconstruction Options

It is important to be informed about each of the reconstruction options in order to determine the best possible treatment plan for each individual patient.

The unique circumstances of each patient help to determine the best option for the method of reconstruction that can be used. The goals of breast reconstruction surgery are to re-create a breast which matches the opposite breast, or in bilateral cases, to reconstruct two breasts of a patients’s desired size. The nipple and areola (the pigmented area surrounding the nipple) are also reconstructed. It is ideal to consult with a plastic surgeon prior to mastectomy. This allows the surgical teams to plan the treatment that is best suited for the patient, even if the patient decides to wait to have reconstructive surgery at a later date.

Immediate breast reconstruction occurs when reconstruction is performed at the time of mastectomy. Immediate reconstruction has the advantage of usually saving the patient at least one subsequent operation, and has been shown to have a significant psychological benefit, as the patient never has to experience the total loss of a breast. All of the reconstruction options listed below can be performed at the time of mastectomy.

Delayed breast reconstruction is done at a later time. For some women, this may be advised, especially if radiation to the chest area is needed after the mastectomy. Delayed reconstruction is appropriate for these women because radiation therapy following breast reconstruction can increase complications after reconstructive surgery.