Today, there are more options for breast reduction procedures than ever. Oregon Live explores this in a recent article titled “More breast reconstruction options after mastectomy.”
According to Lynne Terry of Oregon Live, “Breast reconstruction techniques have improved in recent decades, giving women more options and better outcomes. Implants look more natural. Breasts can be formed with a woman’s own tissue and nipples are often spared, something that wasn’t routine even a decade ago. All that makes for a better look at a trying time. “When a woman has to go through the misfortune of having breast cancer, it can sometimes open up the opportunity to work on both breasts and alter them in a way that some women are thrilled with,” said Dr. Juliana Hansen, chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Oregon Health & Science University. Breast reconstruction often involves multiple surgeries, weeks of recovery and a sensation of tightness across the breast. Some women opt for a prosthetic though most prefer reconstruction. A 1998 federal law passed in 1998 requires that insurance plans and health maintenance organizations cover both. No single procedure soars above the rest. The best choice depends on a patient’s physique, preferences, physicians and her cancer. A desire for smaller breasts or larger ones can guide the choice. One option involves the transfer of tissue from a woman’s abdomen to her chest. Originally, surgeons scooped up the muscle, fat and blood vessels and used that to form breasts. Natural tissue ages with the rest of the body and adjusts to changes in weight. But the operation involves a long, painful recovery, loss of core strength and the risk of a hernia. That procedure has improved with the advance of surgical techniques performed under a microscope. Instead of transferring the abdominal muscles, surgeons now often leave them in place. They dissect the blood vessels from the muscle and transfer the vessels, along with fat and skin, to the chest, where they’re reconnected with vessels using thread thinner than hair.”
If you’re considering breast reduction surgery, you need a surgeon you can trust. Rex E. Moulton-Barrett, M.D. is internationally known and acknowledged. He is board certified with The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Dr. Moulton-Barrett offers a variety of breast reconstruction options. It is a good idea to talk to your oncologist, breast cancer surgeon, and a plastic surgeon before your mastectomy. By doing this, it allows the surgical teams to plan a treatment best individualized for you, even if you decide to wait to have reconstructive surgery later. We perform immediate reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy. An advantage to having immediate breast reconstruction is that it means one less surgery.
If you are looking into breast reconstruction surgery, contact us for a consultation.