Real Results
Living With Breast Changes After Cancer or Surgery?
At Defyne Plastic Surgery, we offer advanced, highly personalized techniques designed to meet your needs and desires so that you can feel confident with your results. Contact us today to schedule your consultation appointment.
Breast Reconstruction Surgery
What it is
Breast reconstruction aims to restore one or both breasts following mastectomy, lumpectomy, or congenital deformities. It often involves multiple procedures performed in stages, which can begin at the time of mastectomy or at a later date. Reconstruction offers many women the chance to regain control over their body image following the often emotional journey of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
We understand that no two bodies are the same. Because of this, our board-certified plastic surgeons employ an individualized approach, tailoring your breast reconstruction procedure to your individual aesthetic and functional goals.
Benefits
- Creation of natural-looking breasts
- Restored proportionality and balance
- Increased confidence
- Improved comfort when wearing clothing
Best for
- Women who have undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy
- Patients who desire improved comfort or confidence with their results
- Those looking for a personalized reconstruction plan
- Women seeking to feel more comfortable and confident after breast surgery
What to Expect
A consultation appointment with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons is the first step toward determining if breast reconstruction is right for you. At Defyne, our surgeons use the innovative Breast Reconstruction Algorithm (B.R.A.) to work with patients to create the best possible treatment plan. During your consultation, our surgeons will review this algorithm with you, analyzing various factors such as your general health status, whether one or both breasts require reconstruction, your breast size, how much tissue is currently available on the chest, and which area(s) of the body tissue can possibly be taken from.
This allows our plastic surgeons to design a customized treatment plan while providing you with as much information as you feel comfortable with. Our goal is to allow patients to make the most informed decision possible about their own care.
Breast reconstruction can generally be broken up into two main categories: implant-based reconstruction or flap reconstruction. While implant reconstruction relies on the use of breast implants to create a new breast mound, flap reconstruction uses the patient’s own tissue from another area of the body to form a new breast. Our surgeons will consider several factors, such as the type of mastectomy, cancer treatments, and your individual body type and preferences, when choosing which surgical option is best.
Following flap breast reconstruction, you will need to stay in the hospital for approximately 48 hours to ensure proper healing. Implant-based reconstructions allow patients to return home the same day as their procedure. While in-patient stays were once longer, we are proud to reduce this time for our patients using Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols. An elastic bandage or support bra will need to be worn during healing to minimize selling. Drains may also be temporarily placed under the skin to drain excess fluid during healing.
The length of recovery will vary depending on the specific reconstruction technique used. However, recovery typically takes 2-4 weeks, with increasing activity beginning at two weeks. Your surgeon will provide specific instructions regarding how to care for your surgical sites, when to take pain medication, and when to schedule follow-up visits.
Breast Reconstruction Techniques
Depending on your individual aesthetic goals, our surgeons are skilled in performing a variety of breast reconstruction techniques. During your consultation at Defyne, your plastic surgeon will discuss these surgical options and help you choose the one that best suits your personal goals.
DIEP Flap:
DIEP, which stands for Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator, is the name of the blood vessel that supplies the lower part of the belly. The DIEP Flap technique involves a flap of skin and fat from the lower abdomen to be transferred to the chest to rebuild the breast. This technique is muscle-sparing, meaning that no muscle is removed from the abdomen.
Silicone Implants:
PAP, or Profunda Artery Perforator, is the name of the blood vessel that supplies the skin and fat of the inner thigh. This technique involves transferring tissue, fat, and associated blood vessels from the back of the upper thigh to the chest to reconstruct new breasts. Using the PAP Flap technique, our surgeons have multiple incision patterns, which can allow for maximum tissue harvesting, depending on each patient’s individual tissue distribution.
LTP Flap:
Lateral Thigh Perforator, or LTP Flap, uses tissues, fat, and blood vessels from the patient’s outer thigh to reconstruct breasts. This option is often used when other flap locations are unavailable.
GAP Flap:
The GAP Flap, or the Gluteal Artery Perforator Flap, involves harvesting excess skin and fat from the buttocks to form the breasts. GAP Flap surgery is a muscle-sparing procedure, which means that no muscle is taken from the gluteal region.
TDAP Flap:
The TDAP, or Thoracodorsal Artery Perforator Flap, is a flap that harvests fat and potentially skin from a patient’s back. Because this tissue often lacks the volume needed to reconstruct the entire breast, this technique is most often used for revision breast reconstruction surgery or repairing contour deformities.
Lat Dorsi Flap:
This reconstruction technique uses the latissimus dorsi muscle on the upper back’s side to create a breast mound. Unlike other flap techniques, the blood vessels of this flap are left attached to the original blood supply in the back. Because a portion of muscle is used in this procedure, this flap is typically considered to be a muscle-transfer reconstruction technique.
S.P.A.R.E Technique:
After mastectomy, the nerves that supply the special sensation to the breast are necessarily cut. The S.P.A.R.E. procedure is a new technique in which the main nerves that supply the nipple and breast that would normally be cut during a mastectomy are identified under magnification, tagged, and protected. Specialized nerve grafts are then used to bridge the gap prior to breast reconstruction and secured to allow regeneration of the native nerve. Peer-reviewed data to date have indicated that this procedure not only allows faster recovery and better sensation but is the first technique that preserves the natural kind of sensation.
Implant Reconstruction:
Implant reconstruction involves placing breast implants under the chest tissue to restore the look and feel of breasts.
This type of reconstruction can be performed in one or two stages, depending on your anatomy. This form of reconstruction often involves total envelope fat grafting to provide more natural-looking and feeling results.
What Our Patients Say
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Defyne is full of the most educated, kindest, most helpful group of people I have ever had the experience of working with. Every single time I step into the office they make me feel like I’m the most important person in the world.
- S.D.
Dr. Tessler is fantastic, he listened to everything I was nervous about and made me feel very comfortable. He gave me exactly what I was imagining and hoping for! All of the staff was very welcoming, sweet, and kind as well. I couldn’t recommend them enough!
- K.M.
What are the Advantages of Autologous Breast Reconstruction Compared to Implant-Based Surgery?
Both Autologous breast reconstruction, or Flap reconstruction, and implant-based surgery offer their own pros and cons. To determine which procedure is right for you and your individual anatomy and goals, please schedule a breast reconstruction consultation with one of our board-certified plastic surgeons at Defyne.
Customized Care from Leading Experts
Our board-certified surgeons specialize in breast augmentation enhanced with Enhanced Viability Fat Transfer (EVFT). This advanced approach is designed to support greater fat retention, helping create soft, natural-looking contours and results that maintain their shape over time.
Customized Care from Leading Experts
Our board-certified surgeons specialize in breast augmentation enhanced with Enhanced Viability Fat Transfer (EVFT). This advanced approach is designed to support greater fat retention, helping create soft, natural-looking contours and results that maintain their shape over time.
Contact Us
Request a Consultation
Are you ready to take the first step toward defining your destiny and achieving your best look yet? At Defyne, our board-certified plastic surgeons
are skilled in performing both surgical and non-surgical procedures, achieving individualized, natural-looking results. Contact Defyne today to
schedule your consultation appointment.