Breast Reconstruction – Cape Cod, Needham, Wareham
For most women, the loss of a breast after mastectomy is an emotionally disturbing event that causes much distress over a long period of time before the deformity can be accepted with equanimity and self-confidence. How each woman views her loss and solves her problems depends on her own needs. For some women, reconstruction of the breast by surgical means is a valuable alternative. Whether a woman should have a breast reconstruction depends primarily on her own needs, but she should also consult with her primary surgeon, her physician, and her family for advice. Board certified Cape Cod plastic surgeon Dr. Rheingold is also available to help her make a reasonable, informed decision.
Breast reconstruction in Cape Cod with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rheingold can be done immediately or anytime after a mastectomy, but usually a lapse of at least 3 months or more is typical. Dr. Rheingold is skilled in many methods of breast reconstruction. Factors include the age, weight, and health of the patient, as well as the status of the remaining breast. Occasionally, there is a need to reconstruct both breasts. The particular surgical technique Dr. Rheingold employs in Cape Cod for breast reconstruction depends on the type of cancer surgery, such as lumpectomy, modified mastectomy, or skin-sparing mastectomy.
The simplest breast reconstruction method is when board certified Cape Cod plastic surgeon Dr. Rheingold places a silicone breast implant directly beneath the skin of the chest and forms a new nipple using a graft from the opposite breast or from other areas of the body. If there is inadequate skin at the mastectomy site or if radiation was a component of treatment, then more complex reconstruction techniques must first bring new skin tissue into the area to form a skin flap. A Latissimus flap uses the tissue of the flank area to create a breast mound. A TRAM flap combines the tissue normally discarded in a tummy tuck operation to recreate a new breast at the same time.
Dr. Rheingold can perform nipple reconstruction in Cape Cod afterward, either as an office procedure or a minor outpatient surgical procedure. The more complex breast reconstruction operations require general anesthesia and a short hospital stay. If the remaining breast is large and interferes with the patient’s well-being, then Dr. Rheingold can often achieve improved breast symmetry by reducing the size of this breast with a reduction mammoplasty operation.
The results of breast reconstruction in Cape Cod with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rheingold are usually gratifying. Most women experience very positive feelings of self-image and well-being. In addition, breast reconstruction in Cape Cod greatly facilitates general comfort as well as the selection and fit of clothing. Breast reconstruction has no effect on the chance of cancer recurrence, nor does it interfere with the detection of cancer should it recur. As with any surgery, there are possible complications, and these should be discussed before any reconstructive procedure is undertaken.
