Can Breast Reconstruction Help Address The Nipple?
Going through a breast cancer battle is obviously incredibly frightening and stressful for many women. This is why I take so much pride in being able to perform breast reconstruction surgery in order to help women feel more like themselves again following a lumpectomy or mastectomy. I also try to be as communicative and reassuring as possible throughout the entire breast reconstruction process. One question that my patients often ask is what will my new reconstructed breasts look like following surgery? Today, I wanted to focus on how I work to reconstruct the nipple as part of the breast reconstruction process to give people a better understanding.
I use nipple reconstruction as a way to help put the finishing touch on a woman’s breast reconstruction. Nipple reconstruction is a separate procedure, and I advise my patients to wait between 3-4 months after their breast reconstruction surgery before undergoing it. During the procedure, I am able to utilize cosmetic tattooing methods to reconstruct the nipple, as well as the surrounding areola. This can help restore the appearance of what the woman’s breast would have looked like before their breast cancer surgery. In some cases, a dermal matrix product (made mostly from collagen) can serve as a skin substitute and provide outstanding nipple reconstruction results. I am able to perform nipple reconstruction as an outpatient procedure for some patients, meaning that no overnight hospital stay will be required
In the video below, I discuss nipple reconstruction in more detail and explain what women can expect from the procedure:
Every woman’s breast reconstruction journey is deeply personal, and choices like undergoing nipple reconstruction or not depend on each patient’s unique preferences. However, I am very happy to be able to provide this option for women who see it as the final step back into normalcy they need following breast cancer. For more information on nipple reconstruction or to schedule a plastic surgery consultation, please contact me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. You can also follow along with me on Facebook for additional plastic surgery videos, tips, news, and much more.