If you’re a New Jersey woman with breast cancer who needs a mastectomy, you may have been researching different breast reconstruction surgery options. And while breast reconstruction surgery can happen immediately after your mastectomy or not, you may be a little confused as to which type of breast reconstruction is right for you. Don’t worry. New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Comizio has helped hundreds of women with breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, and she is here for you, too. Read on to learn about the different breast reconstruction surgery options, then call Dr. Comizio for a consultation to help determine which option is right for you.
Breast Reconstruction with Implants.
Choosing to get implants is the easiest breast reconstruction option for New Jersey women. They cause less scarring and make it easier for you to choose the size and shape of breast that you want. Implants also won’t drastically change in size if you gain or lose weight. A downside to implants, though, is that about 50% of women who have implant based reconstruction will need some type of procedure on their implants in their lifetime. Even if you are being referred for radiation, breast implants may still be a viable option for your breast reconstruction.
Breast Reconstruction with Your Own Body Tissue.
When you use your own body’s arteries, muscle, and/or fat to reconstruct a breast, it is called a flap breast reconstruction. Flap reconstruction is generally more complicated of a procedure, but it does result in breasts that are warm, soft and natural looking. There are a variety of flap breast reconstruction options, including:
- TRAM flap, which stands for transverse rectus abdominis, and is when the skin, fat and part of your 6-pack muscles are used for breast reconstruction;
- DIEP flap, which is similar to a TRAM flap, except no muscle is used;
- SIEA or SIEP flap, which is similar to a DIEP flap and doesn’t include any muscle. However, a different section of belly blood vessels are moved, and no incision in the rectus abdominis muscle is required;
- Latissimus Dorsi Flap, which is in the muscle just below your shoulder and behind your armpit is removed and used for breast reconstruction;
- SGAP Flap or Hip Flap, which uses the blood vessel that runs through your buttocks, and skin from your upper buttocks or hips to reconstruct the breast;
- IGAP Flap, which uses the inferior gluteal artery perforator blood vessel and the lower buttocks tissue, near the butt crease;
- TUG Flap, which uses the muscle in the upper inner thigh; and
If you are considering a flap procedure, Dr. Comizio will work with you and your unique case to determine which flap option is best for you.
I Want More Information About Breast Reconstruction.
If you’re a New Jersey woman needing a mastectomy, and you want more information about breast reconstruction, the best thing you can do is call New Jersey board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Comizio in her Morristown office. Call to schedule a consultation today at (973) 775-9248.
