Breast reconstruction with implants can be an effective medical means of improving appearance after mastectomy or other surgery.

When a mastectomy is necessary to save or prolong the life of a cancer patient, the topic of breast reconstruction surgery is often almost as important to the patients as is getting better. In fact, some patients regret delaying reconstruction when it isn’t medically necessary, said survivor Rebecca Larson during her appearance on Plastic Surgery Talk. And while there are several techniques for performing the surgical reconstruction of breasts that have been removed, one of the most common is the use of breast implants.

Breast reconstruction with implants is a safe and effective means of restoring a mastectomy patient to a  traditionally feminine appearance after a mastectomy. And, while it’s true that the results of an implant procedure don’t always have a look and feel identical to what you get from a procedure using living tissue, the implant option requires far less surgery and involves far less risk to the patient. Scarring is reduced, for one thing, and the less-invasive nature of implant surgery often means less pain, reduced chance of infection, and shorter recovery time.

Implant surgery for reconstructive purposes usually involves the use of an appliance called a tissue expander. Its purpose is to make room for the implant under the remaining skin of the breast area. To do this, the surgeon puts the balloon-like expander under the patient’s chest muscle. About fourteen days later, he or she will begin injecting saline solution into the expander through a port under the skin similar to the port used in Lap-Band® weight loss surgery. As it is inflated with saline over time, the expander stretches the tissue to fit the proposed implant; the expander is then deflated and removed, and the silicone gel or saline breast implant is then inserted in the “pocket” created by the expander. The entire procedure, with several saline inflations, takes about two months to complete.

It’s important to know that breast reconstruction with implants isn’t suitable for everybody. The implants don’t last forever, and will probably need to be surgically removed and replaced at some point down the road. The implant procedure also carries the usual risk of complications, including special-case problems like capsular contracture (the formation of scar tissue around the implant causing the breast to display a “hard” look and feel.) And while it’s true that implants can give the mastectomy patient a symmetrical and appropriately-sized chest, there’s no surgery that can duplicate the look and feel of natural breast tissue. Patients considering implant-based breast reconstruction surgery should talk to breast specialists and other survivors so she can approach the procedure with realistic expectations of what the end result will be.

If you’ve had a mastectomy, or if you might require one in the future, consult with your physician, oncologist and a board-certified plastic surgeon as soon as possible regarding your options for breast reconstructive surgery. And it should be noted that this consultation might first require some research. Not all doctors are as credible as their websites make them appear, and many don’t have extensive experience with breast reconstruction.

“Just because a surgeon pops up number one on Google doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the best breast augmentation surgeon,” explained Dr. Jennifer Walden, a New York plastic surgeon. “Patients have to do their due diligence. Just like doctors learn in training, patients need to educate themselves about credentials and board certification.”

Having succeeded in finding one, however, you will probably find that a certified professional can give you the information and support you need. This will help you make the choices that are most appropriate for you.

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