Breast Implant Reconstruction Offered at Mercy in Baltimore

A breast tissue expander is inserted under the chest muscle wall after the mastectomy. The tissue expander, similar to a balloon with a valve, is filled with sterile saline solution over the course of several months in order to stretch the skin so that the breast implants can be accommodated. The process continues until the reconstructed breast is slightly larger than the desired final size. During the surgery, a drain is inserted into each of the affected breasts. The mastectomy is usually performed as a skin sparing mastectomy and great care is taken to minimize scarring.

The removal of the expander followed by the insertion of the breast implants is completed during outpatient surgery. The same incision used for the mastectomy is used to remove the tissue expander but only part of the incision is used. Patients experience some swelling after breast implants are placed. This swelling will cause the position of the breast to appear high; however, this will resolve itself as the swelling subsides. The final breast implants are a silicone shell filled with either silicone gel or saline solution.

Mercy's breast reconstruction surgeons coordinate breast and reconstruction surgery with the breast surgeons at The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy. The top rated team of breast and plastic surgeons works with patients to develop the best treatment plan for breast reconstruction following mastectomy. Breast implants can be inserted during a mastectomy or delayed to a later time often following the completion of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment.