The Role of a Plastic Surgeon in Your Mastectomy

    TAMPA, FL, July 01, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Adjusting to the loss of a breast or to a different breast shape following a mastectomy can be traumatic. A mastectomy may save your life, but it can also leave you feeling self-conscious about your appearance.

In considering a mastectomy, one important decision is whether you will want to undergo breast reconstruction at the time of your mastectomy. A consultation with a breast reconstruction surgeon prior to scheduling your mastectomy can help you determine whether you're a good candidate for breast reconstruction surgery and review your breast reconstruction options.

Mastectomy surgery involves the removal of breast tissue as a means of treating or preventing breast cancer. Women who have early stage breast cancer may choose a lumpectomy, a procedure in which only the tumor is removed.

Both surgical procedures take an aesthetic toll on the affected breast, although lumpectomies are often less impactful to the breast's appearance. In many cases, breast reconstruction can be performed immediately following the mastectomy while the patient is still anesthetized.

Involving a qualified plastic surgeon in the planning stages of a mastectomy will help you set realistic expectations for your breast reconstruction and decide on the type of breast reconstruction that's best for you. There are three primary post-mastectomy breast reconstruction options:

- Breast reconstruction with saline or silicone gel breast implants
- Autologous tissue reconstruction (also known as flap reconstruction) using your own tissue
- A combination of tissue reconstruction and implants

If you choose to have immediate post-mastectomy breast reconstruction, the breast implants will be placed or the new breast mound will be built as soon as the breast tissue is removed. Depending on your individual circumstances and whether your are having a single mastectomy, you may also choose to have a breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation of the opposite breast to achieve greater symmetry, proportion and appearance.

Although a reconstructed breast will not have the same sensation and look as the breast it replaces, advances in both mastectomy and breast reconstruction techniques have led to less invasive procedures with more aesthetically pleasing results.

If you would like to learn more about breast reconstruction options following a mastectomy, please visit the website of experienced Tampa, Florida, plastic surgeon Dr. Antonio J. Gayoso at Gayoso Plastic Surgery at http://gayosoplasticsurgery.com.

# # #