Breast Reconstruction

The annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons is currently being held in Toronto, Canada, and a much discussed topic at the meeting the increasing role of using one’s own fat as a “filling” agent from one part of the body to the chest/breast area in reconstruction; typically, this involves liposuction from one […]

There were 2 articles that came out about “delayed” reconstruction following mastectomy. While this adds another article to the discussion, it highlights the point about talking to your plastic and reconstructive surgeon about reconstruction and the nature of the disease…. for instance, for people who definitely need radiation after a mastectomy, delayed is an option

As we have been reading about ramifications to the newly passed law in New York regarding providing options of breast reconstruction to individuals requiring mastectomy, I think about the continued majority of patients in this country who have not had reconstruction, either by not having the opportunity or otherwise….

I just read that there New York Gov. David Paterson signed legislation requiring all hospitals to tell female patients about options for reconstruction after mastectomy; it is amazing that it has required a mandate for patients to find out about their options in one state….. however, I tell my patients that even in this country

I had a patient today who asked that we remove her chemo therapy port… as part of the steps of breast reconstruction,we were also performing some balancing/touch-up’s to the breast reconstruction and the chemotherapy port (which is placed for intravenous placement of chemotherapy medication) is often visible on the upper part of the chest under

Patients always call asking me if they are a candidate for a DIEP flap. There are not many things that are absolute exclusions. To determine if you are a candidate, you need to come in for a consult. Even if you are overweight or have had previous abdominal surgeries, you may still be a candidate.

If you have had breast reconstruction, please take a few minutes to complete this survey from the Cancer Support Community. Your responses, all confidential, will help design more resources and information for women considering this surgery. https://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/fm/Media/Wellnet/Summer-2010/Breast-Reconstruction-Surgery.aspx

There remains the question of immediate reconstruction (at the same time of the mastectomy, and at the same surgery) versus delayed reconstruction (breast reconstruction performed after the mastectomy, which can be weeks to months following the initial mastecotmy)… This is an important discussion, as there are different viewpoints regarding the approaches… and a personal decision

Nipple Sparing Mastectomy 7/24/2010 (10:11:04am)Tags: mastectomy reconstruction nippleComments: (0) It seems obvious that one of the more difficult parts of breast reconstruction is creating a new and natural-looking nipple and arerola. Women sometimes wonder about the possibility of a mastectomy that spares the nipple. Here is a brief interview, from MedScape, with Dr. Lisa Newman

It can be very hard to identify the best web resources about breast cancer. One very fine organization and website is Living Beyond Breast Cancer: www.lbbc.org They have the best printed materials of any organization that I know. Additionally, they sponsor many educational programs, both “live/in person” and teleconferences. Here is information about a July