Breast Reconstruction is available for women who have been ill with breast cancer. These women must often cope with the loss of either one or both breasts. This devastating situation can be healed, however, by breast reconstruction performed by Dr. Mohit Sood. Dr. Sood is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, whose work helps to restore a woman’s confidence in her appearance and give her a positive feeling about life.
What Happens During Breast Reconstruction?
Surgery for breast reconstruction involves reshaping and rebuilding breasts that were partially or wholly removed during treatment. The surgery may use fat or muscle taken from other parts of the patient’s body, or an implant of tissue that was removed may be put in place. Sometimes one breast is made smaller so that it is in proper proportion to the other one. The approach used in surgery depends on the patient’s own body and the particular way the mastectomy was performed.
What are The Benefits of Breast Reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction helps cancer survivors to heal both emotionally and physically after the devastating experience of losing a breast. The surgery will help her regain the look she had before treatment, and can also help her fit into bras and other clothing better. This type of surgery is often covered by health insurance.
How is Breast Reconstruction Surgery Performed?
There are several options for breast reconstruction, all requiring anesthesia, whether by IV sedation or general anesthesia. Once the patient is sedated, Dr. Sood will do one of these procedures:
- He will create a TRAM (Transverse Rectus Abdominus Myocutaneous) flap, which is done by using muscle, fat and skin from the abdomen to construct a new breast.
- He will remove tissue from the patient’s buttocks or the abdomen by forming a DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) or SGAP (Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator) flap. In these techniques, only fat and skin are removed.
- A tissue expander may also be inserted to stretch the skin and make space for a breast implant. This expander piece will be left inside for a period of four to six months.
The breast implants may actually be put in place at a later time, making the reconstruction process a multi-step procedure. The final step is the placement of the patient’s nipple and areola.
