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Advice for Breast Reconstruction Patients

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For many plastic surgery patients, planning their procedure is an exciting time because they’re excited to feel more comfortable with their appearance, and in some cases, it’s a change they’ve been looking forward to for years. But breast reconstruction patients are unique. While their cosmetic surgery is a positive step toward reclaiming their confidence, it’s also a part of the very difficult journey of fighting breast cancer. To lend an extra hand to these patients throughout their experience, we’ve compiled some helpful advice from our current and former patients as well as experts in the field.

  1. breast reconstruction atlanta gaFind a skincare regimen that helps you throughout your cancer treatments. Every patient has unique needs, but one patient found a regimen that worked well for her throughout her radiation treatments:
  • Zyrtec® twice daily
  • Repêchage® seaweed masks (from the neck through the midsection) 2-3 times per week
  • Between seaweed masks, a twice daily application of Repêchage® Hydra Dew Illuminating Cream Mask mixed with Repêchage® Seaweed Oil
  • Pilates twice per week
  • After radiation treatments were finished, twice daily application of the cream mask and seaweed oil along with a CeraVe® moisturizer

While this patient saw success with this particular skincare routine, every patient is unique. Dr. Franklyn Elliott does not endorse any specific products or companies, and encourages patients to find the right mixture and regimen for their personal needs.

  1. Don’t assume that breast implants are your only cosmetic option. While some breast reconstruction patients don’t realize this until their plastic surgery consultation, there are many ways to perform this procedure. While breast implants are one option, many patients also have the opportunity for autologous breast reconstruction (using the patient’s own tissue). Procedures like the TRAM flap and the scarless latissimus dorsi technique can rebuild breasts using specific muscle and fat tissue from the abdomen or the back. These procedures tend to produce results that look especially natural, and a recent study even found that patients who chose an autologous reconstruction tended to be happier with their breast reconstruction results in the years and decades following their surgery.
  2. Plan to take more time away from work and other obligations than you think you’ll need. This suggestion serves multiple purposes. First, every patient’s recovery is different. Even women who have similar medical histories and who have undergone a similar procedure can heal at very different rates, so it’s better to estimate your recovery time on the higher end. Second, feeling rushed to get back to work before you’re ready can actually slow your recovery, because you’ll have more stress and may push yourself to resume activities before you’re ready, which could cause complications. Simply knowing that you have plenty of time to heal can help your recovery go more smoothly.
  3. Take an active role in deciding which procedure is right for you. With so many options available, it’s important to choose the surgery that best balances all of your unique needs and priorities. While some patients find it easier to simply take the suggestion of a friend or family member, a recent study in The Annuls of Surgical Oncology found that women who took a more active role by researching each of their options and putting each in careful consideration before making their decision were more satisfied with their results than patients who were more passive throughout the process.
  4. Don’t spend too much time online. The web can be a great place to start researching your surgical options, but it’s also a place where you can find information that exaggerates and amplifies your worst fears on any subject—not just cosmetic surgery. Make sure to get your information from reputable sources (like the American Society of Plastic Surgeons or The American Cancer Society). If you have questions before or after your surgery, forego the search engines and call my office directly, because the answer to your question could be different depending on your individual situation.
  5. Little details can go a long way. One of our patients suggests a bra that helped her throughout her cancer treatments (a cotton, no-underwire bra from a company called Hanro of Switzerland). Because reaching overhead can be difficult during recovery, having button-up shirts clean and ready can be helpful, and flex straws can make it much easier to drink water in bed.

Fighting breast cancer is not an easy process for anyone, but having support from those around you can make a powerful difference. Whether your mastectomy was years ago or you’ve just been diagnosed, schedule a consultation with Dr. Franklyn Elliott to begin discussing your breast reconstruction options so you can get started on the road to looking and feeling more like the “you” that you remember. Or, to learn more about the procedures we offer, join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Will I Be Happy with My Breast Reconstruction in Ten Years?

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For a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, deciding on a treatment plan is extremely complex because she has several key priorities to keep in mind—trying to eliminate all the cancer without risking her safety or sacrificing her ability to feel beautiful. Between lumpectomy, mastectomy with implant reconstruction, mastectomy with autologous reconstruction (using the patient’s own tissue, like the abdominal TRAM flap), it can be overwhelming for a patient to have so many options and to know that her decision will have a life-long effect. After working with breast reconstruction patients for 30 years, I’ve developed an understanding of these patients’ needs, and many of them worry about whether they’ll still be happy with their decision long-term.

breast-reconstruction-alpharetta-gaA recent study in the Annuls of Surgical Oncology focused on just that—how satisfied women were with their breast cancer treatment choice. The study surveyed more than 7,000 breast cancer survivors, ranging from those whose surgery was less than a year ago to those whose surgery was more than 20 years ago. This study came to several conclusions that can help women to be happier with their results long-term:

  • Patients who are more active in the decision-making process tend to be more satisfied with their results. The best way for a patient to take an active role in her treatment is to do her research—learn about the options and the pros and cons of each treatment choice, and discuss extensively with her plastic surgeon before making a decision.
  • Patients who opted for abdominal flap reconstruction (like the TRAM flap) are typically happier with their results than patients who chose implant reconstruction, the Latissimus Dorsi flap, a lumpectomy, or mastectomy without reconstruction. Patients who had autologous breast reconstruction ( like the TRAM flap) also tended to retain their satisfaction better over time than implant reconstruction patients and lumpectomy patients, as well as patients who have a complex history of several different procedures. This may be because when the breasts are made using natural tissue, they can more easily change with the patient’s body throughout years of weight fluctuations, pregnancy, and more. As the authors of the study point out, when only one breast is being reconstructed, abdominal flaps also tend to have better symmetry than breast reconstruction results with implants.
  • The earlier breast cancer was found and treated, the happier patients tend to be with their breast reconstruction results. This points out once again why regular screenings are so important—early detection could not only save a patient’s life, but help her to regain her confidence and get back to her life after treatment more easily than if the cancer had progressed further.

The process of breast cancer diagnosis, decision, and treatment is never easy—patients are, after all, facing a powerful disease and striving to come out the other side feeling strong and beautiful again. But information like what we found in this study can help breast reconstruction patients navigate their decision using the input of real women who have been in a similar position. My advice for any breast cancer patient is to take in as much information as possible, learn about the options available, and choose the one that feels right to you. For women who have already had breast reconstruction and are unhappy with their results, breast revision surgery can be a way to improve the appearance of your chest even years later. To start discussing your options and learning about which reconstructive option is the best fit for you, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott. Or, to learn more about the other procedures I offer, follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

Breast Reconstruction: Free TRAM vs. DIEP Flap

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When a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, she has been changed forever. The physical and emotional journey she experiences throughout the diagnosis and treatment can change her outlook on life and the way she feels about her body. When I perform a breast reconstruction surgery for a patient who has undergone a mastectomy, my focus is on trying to restore the confidence they had in their body before their cancer journey. One important way that I work toward the best possible results for each patient is by ensuring that I’m using the right procedure and technique for each individual’s unique needs.

Until they come in for a breast reconstruction consultation, few patients realize how many ways there are to restore a breast, and trying to understand all their options can be overwhelming. Beyond making my recommendations, I want to help my patients learn about their options, understand the pros and cons of each technique, and discover which procedure is the best fit for them. I encourage patients to begin researching their options before their consultation, and I offer information to help on my blog, YouTube channel, and Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ pages.

While breast implants can be a great choice for some patients, others prefer breast reconstruction that uses their own tissue (also known as autologous breast reconstruction). In the video below, I explain the differences between two of the most common types of autologous procedures: the free TRAM flap and the DIEP flap (or perforator flap).

While I consider it an honor to help each of my patients become happier with their appearance, the strength that breast cancer survivors exhibit makes them a group that I feel especially privileged to work with. For more information about breast reconstruction and other cosmetic procedures, explore my website or schedule an appointment for your consultation.

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