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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The Plastic Surgery Channel welcomes Dr. Louis Bucky, a recognized expert in breast aesthetics, to its faculty of prestigious surgeons.

Dr. Bucky is an Associate Professor of Surgery within the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His credentials include serving as past chairman of the Perspectives and Advancements of Plastic Surgery Symposium, a forum sponsored by the Plastic Surgery Education Foundation, and former President of the Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Dr. Bucky is also a member of the 10 member Allergan Breast Aesthetics Executive Council. He has been awarded top regional and national honors in plastic surgery for his work in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

“I think that The Plastic Surgery Channel presents an exciting opportunity to communicate objectively in a timely manner many of the important aspects of plastic surgery in a way that has not been done before,” Dr. Bucky said. “I am extremely excited and honored to be a part of the faculty.”

Dr. Bucky’s role as faculty member will include research verification as well as commentary on surgical topics (see video below). His recent appearance on the channel’s Plastic Surgery Talk show, discussing breast reconstruction, was one of the most viewer-commented shows since the channel’s inception.

The Plastic Surgery Channel is the world’s first online television network devoted exclusively to educational and entertaining programming about cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The channel aims to provide credible, up-to-date information to people considering plastic surgery or a cosmetic procedure, as well as coverage of the latest news and hot topics from the field of plastic surgery.

Dr. Bucky on Plastic Surgery News – Fat Grafting for Facial Trauma Victims

Dr. Louis Bucky, a prominent Philadelphia plastic surgeon and member of the Plastic Surgery Channel faculty, explains how dermal fillers can be used to restore volume to the face in this educational video. Learn about the factors that affect facial aging, at what age to consider using facial fillers to erase wrinkles, and what techniques can be used to get the longest lasting results.

Click the video player below to watch the interview.

The practice of fat grafting is most often employed among cosmetic surgeons as a way to make the face appear younger by adding more volume, so the technique is well known and commonly used. But a new report in the latest journal edition of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons says the technique is also viable for people with facial trauma or malformation.

Typically, a cosmetic surgery patient will have fat taken from the stomach or thighs and then injected under the cheek bones, for example, to produce more fullness in that area.

The new study looked at results for 100 patients who had undergone fat grafting to address structural issues in their face caused by injury or birth defects. Patients were questioned about the outcomes about two years after their original procedure, and the results were also assessed by a five-member jury.

Overall, 74 percent of the patients were satisfied with the results of their grafting operations, with minor complications reported in only 3 percent of the cases.

These subjective surveys rated the results at 14.5 out of a possible 20 points. Interestingly, the panel of 5 physicians who examined the results objectively, rated those results a little lower: 13.9 out of 20. The study showed that fat grafting works best in the mid-facial and lateral cheek areas, with lesser results on operations that involve the upper and lower lip.

Philadelphia plastic surgeon Dr. Lou Bucky notes that the impact of facial trauma can cause a loss of volume – and that using fat from another part of the body can sometimes produce a more permanent result, when done right, than dermal fillers.

Overall, researchers found that fat grafting is a simple and efficient technique for restoring facial volume in patients who have a soft-tissue deficiency, regardless of the cause.