BREAST RECONSTRUCTION

When a woman receives the diagnosis of breast cancer, the news can be devastating. The flood of information from friends, family and the internet can be overwhelming. The first and most important thing is to find a great oncologist and a great breast surgeon. If you have a team that you are comfortable with already, that is great! If not, Dr. Obaid can help you find the perfect team for YOU. The next important thing to realize is that plastic surgery has become quite good at rebuilding breasts. Dr. Obaid is a specialist in breast reconstruction, and he will help restore your appearance after your breast surgery and any chemotherapy or radiation that you might need.

How is Breast Reconstruction performed?
The three most common ways to reconstruct a breast after breast cancer are with breast implants, abdominal muscle and tummy fat, or muscle and fat from the back in combination with a breast implant. The art of breast reconstruction is a combination of selecting the perfect operation for the individual patient and the skillful performance of that operation.

How are Breast Impants used in Breast Reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction using breast implants is the least invasive and least painful breast recounstruction option. It has by far the shortest recovery time. A temporary breast implant known as a tissue expander is placed underneath the breast skin immediately after the breast surgeon has performed the removal of the breast. You will then make weekly visits for approximately 1 month to Dr. Obaid's office to have the temporary implant (tissue expander) slowly filled until it expands the tissue around it to form the reconstructed breast. After sufficient healing occurs, you will return to the operating room to have the tissue expander removed and a permanent breast implant placed. At the same time, a new nipple will be constructed.

What New Techniques are used with Breast Implants for Breast Reconstruction?
If you choose to have breast reconstruction with breast implants, it is important to know that Dr. Obaid uses a very new technique that involves supporting your implant with a product called Alloderm. This allows Dr. Obaid to do up to half of your expansion while you are asleep at the initial operation! This can cut your office visits in half while at the same time providing you with a much more natural looking breast. If you are considering breast reconstruction, make sure your surgeon uses this new technique, as Dr. Obaid is one of the few breast reconstruction specialists who does.

Can My Tummy or Stomach Fat be Used for Breast Reconstruction?
A second option for breast reconstruction involves the use of tummy or stomach fat and the underlying rectus muscle. This is the muscle that gives the "six pack abs" appearance. The procedure is called a TRAM flap and in his Southlake office, Dr. Obaid can visit with you and help determine if you are a candidate for this procedure.

Breast reconstruction using abdominal or tummy fat provides for a very natural appearing breast reconstruction. Because it uses your own fat, the reconstructed breast feels softer and tends to look more natural than does a breast reconstructed with implants alone. In addition, if only one breast is being removed and reconstructed, it can be much easier to match the tummy fat reconstructed breast to the other side.

The down side to a TRAM flap (abdominal fat breast reconstruction) is that it is the most invasive of the three breast reconstruction options. Patients tend to have a longer recovery time and tend to be more limited in the activities they can participate in while healing. In addition, patients who are elite athletes will notice a decrease in the strength of their abdomen especially in exercises that involve sit-ups. Finally, in patients requiring reconstruction of both breasts, reconstruction using stomach fat can require a significantly longer recovery.

If you are interested in a truly artistic breast reconstruction using fat from your stomach, contact Dr. Obaid for a consultation in his Southlake office.

How is Breast Reconstruction Performed Using Breast Implants and Muscle from My Back?
Breast Reconstruction can be performed using a combination of muscle from the back and breast implants. The muscle and the fat from the back help to camouflage the breast implant while providing it protection from infection and trauma. In addition, in patients who have undergone radiation to the breast, the healthy skin and fat from the back that have not been exposed to radiation can be used to replace the damaged skin and fat from the breast that was exposed to radiation, allowing for a much more pleasing appearing breast. In addition, the back muscle helps to protect the breast implant from damage that might result from the radiation.

Breast reconstruction using muscle, fat and skin from the back paired with a breast implant represents a compromise between the two other techniques. The recovery time is shorter and less arduous then it would be if fat and muscle from the stomach were used; however, it is a more invasive procedure than breast reconstruction using implants alone. While the back muscle covering the implants provide for a more natural appearance than breast reconstruction with breast implants alone, the presence of a breast implant does make the breast reconstruction less natural appearing than a breast reconstruction using only tummy or stomach fat.

Patients who have breast reconstruction using muscle and fat from the back along with a breast implant tend to have little long term difficulties. Patients who are elite athletes or avid sailors may notice the loss of strength; however, most patients will not notice this long term. If you are interested in breast reconstruction with muscle and fat from your back paired with a breast implant, contact Dr. Obaid's Southlake office for a consultation.