Breast Reconstruction

Goal: Reconstruction, i.e. replacement of missing breast tissue after amputation or congenitally underdeveloped breast.

Operative technique: The amputated breast can be reconstructed in two ways, with the help of a silicone implant or with its own tissue. Applying the implant is an easier and simpler way, but since there is almost always a lack of skin, it must first be expanded by expansion in the first act, using a so-called tissue expander, or a Becker prosthesis-expander is immediately inserted, which remains permanently. In the next few weeks, the patient comes for 5-7 days, when small amounts of physiological solution are injected through a special place on the skin, so that the implant is gradually filled to the desired volume. The use of own tissue from the abdomen or back is also very common in breast reconstruction.

Modern treatment of malignant breast disease today includes primary reconstruction, when the patient is replaced immediately after the amputation of the lost breast.

A few months after the operation, the reconstruction of the nipple with the skin of the vaginal lips, with part of the nipple of a healthy breast or a tattoo, as well as possible additional correction in terms of achieving symmetry with the other breast (reduction and lifting of the other breast) can be performed.

Duration of the procedure and anesthesia: Both operative techniques are performed under general anesthesia, the first lasts about 1-1.5 hours, and the second much longer.

Recovery:Very short when inserting the prosthesis-expander, except that you need to come several times due to the gradual increase in volume. In the case of reconstruction with one’s own tissue, i.e. skin-muscle flaps, the recovery is significantly longer, because it is a major operation.

Rare complications: Swelling, the appearance of a seroma that drains for a long time, slight asymmetry of the breasts, and in the case of reconstruction with tissue from the stomach, the rare appearance of an abdominal hernia.