breast surgery after lumpectomy

In some cases, a patient may desire breast reconstruction after a lumpectomy.During a lumpectomy procedure, only a portion of the breast is removed at the location where cancer or abnormal tissue is located. For this reason, a lumpectomy is often referred to as breast-sparing or breast-conserving surgery. Lumpectomies are very important because they eliminate localized breast cancer cells before they can spread and help breast cancer patients maximize their chances of achieving remission. While lumpectomy procedures are less invasive than mastectomies, patients can be left with asymmetrical breasts, dents, or simply an undesired appearance.

Board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott performs breast reconstruction after lumpectomy using several different methods. For patients who have their desired breast volume, but are left with unequal breast size or noticeable dents after a lumpectomy are ideal candidates for breast reconstruction using autologous fat transfer. During autologous fat transfer, Dr. Elliott uses a patient’s own fatty tissue to rebuild and contour the breast. Most often, fat is obtained from the abdomen for the procedure using liposuction to remove semi-solid fat. However, fat can also be harvested from the thighs, buttocks, or other areas of unwanted fat to be purified and re-injected into the breast. Fat transfer for breast reconstruction creates a natural look and feel, restoring the appearance of the breast prior to the lumpectomy as much as possible.

For women with large breasts, breast reconstruction can be performed through local tissue rearrangement to restore a desirable appearance following cancer removal. Tissue rearrangement shifts natural tissue to where lumpectomy occurred. This method preserves natural breast function while rearranging remaining tissue to create a natural shape using a reduction or lift technique. To provide symmetry, a similar procedure may be performed on the other breast reducing it to match rearranged opposite breast. This relocation can either be done at the time of mastectomy or at a later date, depending on the patient’s preference and cancer treatment plan.

Dr. Elliott is passionate about breast reconstruction and often travels to discuss and teach fellow plastic surgeons the latest reconstruction techniques. Due to the highly complex nature of breast reconstruction, it’s important to find an experienced board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon you feel comfortable with. Contact us to make an appointment to have a consultation with Dr. Elliott and discuss your goals for breast reconstruction. Be sure to connect with Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.