News

  • High Risk Individuals
    • Breast Cancer Survival Gene
      14/04/2010
      QIMR researchers, as part of an international collaboration, have found that a gene that is most commonly associated with skin pigmentation, hair and eye colour may influence a patient's chances of surviving cancer.
      ...more
    • Research News NBCF!
      12/04/2010
      Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have discovered that breast stem cells are exquisitely sensitive to the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone....
      ...more
    • Should Genes be patented
      5/02/2010
      The lawsuit challenges the government's granting of control of patents on BRCA1 and BRCA2 to Myriad Genetics (USA).
      ...more

Breast Reconstruction

Following mastectomy, many women choose to have a breast reconstruction. Reconstructive breast surgery involves rebuilding the woman's breast using an implant or tissue from another part of the body. Sometimes reconstruction is performed at the same time as the mastectomy operation and sometimes it involves additional surgery at a later time.

Over the last decade, techniques for breast reconstruction have greatly improved and there is now a better understanding of the risks and benefits of the procedure.

If breast reconstruction is a consideration, it is recommended the woman talks to her surgeon before the mastectomy.  It may also be useful to talk to other women who have had breast reconstruction to give a realistic expectation about the results.
There are many methods for breast reconstruction. The two most common are:

Tissue Expander - Breast implants This is the most common technique used worldwide. The surgeon inserts a tissue expander beneath the pectoralis major muscle of the chest wall.

In a process that can take weeks or months, saline solution is injected to progressively expand the overlaying tissue. Once the expander has reached an acceptable size, it may be removed and replaced with a more permanent implant. Reconstruction of the areola and nipple are usually performed in a separate operation after the skin has stretched to its final size.

Flap reconstruction The second most common procedure uses tissue from other parts of the patient's body, such as the back, buttocks, thigh or abdomen.

    • The latissimus dorsi muscle flap is the donor tissue available on the back. It is a large flat muscle which can be employed without significant loss of function. It can be moved into the breast defect still attached to its blood supply under the armpit (axilla).
    • Abdominal flaps The abdominal flap for breast reconstruction is the TRAM flap. The DIEP flap and free-TRAM flap require advanced microsurgical technique and are less common as a result. Both can provide enough tissue to reconstruct large breasts.

Pink Hope does not provide medical advice. Please refer to our Disclaimer for more information.