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Ask Dr. Elliott: What Happens During a Breast Reconstruction Consultation?

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As a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, I frequently work alongside breast cancer patients to help offer relief and options for breast reconstruction. In a breast reconstruction consultation, I talk thoroughly with them to aid in the decision for choosing the best procedure for their individual needs.

During the breast reconstruction consultation, a patient wants to know the ins and outs of breast reconstruction in terms of the procedure itself as well as the options available. All of your questions should be matched by knowledgeable, clear answers provided by your chosen board-certified plastic surgeon. Regardless what route you choose to pursue, I value caring for and helping my patients comprehend every step of the surgical process.

The most important thing you can do when you meet me or any surgeon is to do your research ahead of time, ask thorough questions, and courageously address any concerns so you can completely consider all possibilities before making the life-changing decision of having breast reconstruction. Learn more details in my video, posted below.

 

We will continue to post new videos discussing various aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery in the coming months. If you would like to schedule a consultation in order to have your questions answered personally, please contact us today. For more on breast reconstruction and other procedures, please visit my website and follow me, Dr. Franklyn Elliott, on  Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

Breast Cancer Care: Radiation after Reconstruction with Breast Implants

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According to the American Cancer Society, as of 2012, over 2.9 million women in the United States with a history of breast cancer were living cancer-free or undergoing treatment. There are various methods of breast cancer treatment, including surgery, radiation, and systemic therapy. Many women with breast implants who undergo radiation treatment, such as chemotherapy, are concerned as to whether implants should be placed before or after radiation. Below, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott explains the answer to this breast cancer care question.

breast reconstruction atlanta georgiaRadiation therapy often follows breast-conserving surgery and uses high-energy beams and particles to kill cancer cells in the body in order to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. While it can destroy cancer cells remaining in the breast, chest wall, and underarm area after surgery, radiation affects blood supply to skin and deep tissues which can cause the occurrence of scar tissue.

However, this does not mean that women who have saline or silicone breast implants cannot have radiation therapy. Rather, the presence of implants just makes radiation therapy planning more multifaceted. Radiation can cause scarring and hardening of the implant, leading to a less natural look.  With breast implants being in the area of treatment, they would be subject to the changes in blood supply caused by radiation.

As the skin and muscle scars after radiation therapy, so does the scar capsule surrounding the implant. This increases the threat of capsular contracture, which occurs when a patient’s body reacts to a foreign object and forms a “capsule” around the implant. The additional scarring causes the capsule to tighten around the implant, creating a condition in which the breast appears hardened and uncharacteristic of a healthy breast. While the implant itself remains unaffected, the tissue around it can be modified greatly. This condition can generally be treated with success though with capsular surgery and implant exchange.

Typically without extensive complication, breast cancer patients can have radiation therapy after TRAM flap reconstruction procedures with tissue expanders. However, it is essential to remember that the tissue will still be affected (i.e., scarring, changes in blood flow). This means the skin and fat used in reconstruction may not be as soft and natural-feeling as it would be if it were not part of radiation therapy. On the other hand depending in the radiation therapy technique the TRAM flap may be – in up to 60% of cases- be essentially unaffected by the radiation.   Dr. Elliott can delay breast reconstruction if his patients need radiation so that they may use healthy tissue that has not been affected by the treatment. Although each patient’s situation is unique, Dr. Elliott generally prefers the TRAM flap procedure in situations where radiation therapy is involved.

Ultimately, the decision to undergo radiation with the presence of breast implants is the patient’s choice. If you are interested in breast revision for implant removal or want to learn more, please contact our office today to schedule a consultation. Stay up to date on the latest breast cancer and breast reconstruction news by following Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

What Can I Expect During a Breast Reconstruction Consultation?

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­­­­­­­­The American Cancer Society estimates that about 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed this year.  Alongside skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, women have many options for treatment, including various types of mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. After treatment, many women are left with the desire to rebuild breasts with breast reconstruction. A consultation for breast reconstruction in the presence of just realizing you have breast cancer can be quite daunting. However, board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Franklyn Elliott frequently works alongside breast cancer patients to help provide options for breast reconstruction and aid in deciding the best procedure for your individual needs.

breast reconstruction atlanta gaDuring a consultation, the vast amount of information that a patient wants to know about breast reconstruction should be matched by answers provided by your chosen plastic surgeon. Generally, what you should expect from a breast reconstruction consultation is to learn every aspect of the options available to you. Dr. Elliott firmly believes in presenting all available options rather than putting the option he believes is most suitable foremost. For example, may be better suited for a TRAM flap operation (which utilizes a portion of a woman’s abdominal fat, muscle, and skin to reconstruct a breast) over a breast implant operation and vice versa, but regardless you should have both presented to you as viable options.

Dr. Elliott offers many options for reconstruction, including the aforementioned TRAM flap procedure along with latissimus dorsi flap and DIEP flap options. Additionally, Dr. Elliott offers the use of a tissue expander for those who wish to have larger breasts than they did before their breast cancer surgery. FDA-approved breast implants can also be used to augment the breast and are available in saline, silicone, or “gummy bear” implants made of highly cohesive silicone gel.

When meeting with your plastic surgeon for a breast reconstruction consultation, the most important thing to do is to ask thorough questions and address any concerns so you have full understanding of all options before making the life-changing decision of undergoing breast reconstruction. From time to time, Dr. Elliott has seen this take more than one visit, which is completely acceptable and encouraged to help the patient have a full understanding of breast surgery  and what lies ahead. Regardless of the decision made, Dr. Elliott values caring for and helping his patients in understanding every step of the surgical process.

To learn about more about breast reconstruction procedures offered, please contact our office. Be sure to stay connected with Dr. Elliott on Facebook, Twitter, and Google + for the latest plastic surgery news and updates.

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