Breast Reconstruction
If you have a mastectomy, you can also choose to have breast reconstruction surgery. 75% of women having a mastectomy in the west of Ireland opt for an immediate reconstruction at the time of their mastectomy.
This surgery is done to give you a new breast-like shape and nipple. Your surgeon can also add a tattoo that looks like the areola (the dark area around your nipple). Or you may not want any more surgery and prefer to wear a prosthesis (breast-like form) in your bra.
There are two types of breast reconstruction surgery:
A technique called a skin-sparing mastectomy permits the removal of the breast tissue (mastectomy) while maintaining much of the breast’s natural shape and contour, as well as some peripheral sensation. This procedure involves removing the breast tissue through an opening made by removing the nipple and surrounding aureola. This leaves the breast skin intact and eliminates the necessity for totally removing the breast.
The inside of the breast is then reconstructed by filling the hollowed-out breast with a muscle flap taken from the latissimus dorsi muscle in the back. An implant / prosthesis may or may then be inserted underneath the muscle. The incision is neatly closed using skin from the muscle flap taken from the back to cover where the nipple and aureola were previously positioned.
The aim of reconstruction is to create a breast that looks and feels as much like the other breast as possible. It helps to restore shape and eliminates the need for wearing an external prosthesis inside the cup of a bra, and to restore confidence.
