Breast Reconstruction Offered at Mercy in Baltimore
Breast reconstruction often can be done at the same time as mastectomy or at a later date, depending on your preference and diagnosis. There are many ways to reconstruct the breast including surgical implants as well as autologous breast reconstruction, in which fatty tissue is taken from another part of the body to reconstruct the breast.
Mercy offers a team of top breast surgeons and breast reconstruction surgeons who work together to provide women with a number of breast reconstruction options.
What is Breast Reconstruction Surgery after breast cancer?
Breast reconstruction is surgery to rebuild the breast shape following mastectomy. The breast shape may be recreated by either an implant (saline or silicone gel) or tissue from another area of the body.
For autologous breast reconstruction (using your own body tissue), a flap of tissue with its blood vessels is moved from either the abdomen, buttocks, or upper thigh to the chest to form a new breast. Some women see this as an added benefit to contour their abdomen and/or buttock area. Removing and reconnecting the blood vessels requires precision and detail so that blood circulates normally in the new breast. Seeking out an experienced surgeon is highly recommended for this type of procedure.
What types of Breast Reconstruction are available at Mercy?
Mercy’s breast surgeons work in tandem with the renowned surgeons of The Breast Reconstruction and Restoration Center at Mercy to offer patients cutting-edge treatment to achieve the most natural results in breast reconstruction and breast revisions. Patients can choose to have their breast reconstruction surgery immediately after the removal of a cancerous breast, or a delayed breast reconstruction, which is performed separately from breast cancer surgery.
Mercy highly experienced team offers expertise in several different types of breast reconstruction:
- Breast implant reconstruction – uses an implant filled with saline or silicone to create the breast shape
- DIEP flap breast reconstruction – uses tissue from the abdominal area
- SGAP flap breast reconstruction – uses tissue from the upper to mid buttock area
- IGAP flap breast reconstruction – uses tissue from the lower buttock area
- TUG flap breast reconstruction – uses tissue from the upper thigh
- Latissimus flap breast reconstruction – uses tissue from the back/shoulder blade
- Breast surgery revisions – Adjustments to previous breast reconstruction surgery to restore symmetry and balance
- Nipple reconstruction – surgery to create a natural looking nipple for the reconstructed breast
What are skin-sparing mastectomy and nipple-sparing mastectomy?
Both skin-sparing mastectomy and nipple-sparing mastectomy are performed only when immediately followed by breast reconstruction surgery.
Skin-sparing mastectomy involves the removal of the entire breast and nipple, but preserves the breast skin for a better cosmetic result in breast reconstruction.
Nipple-sparing mastectomy involves the removal of only the breast tissue. The breast skin and nipple remain with the goal of producing a better cosmetic result in breast reconstruction.
The highly skilled and experienced breast surgery and breast reconstruction team at Mercy offers both skin-sparing and nipple-sparring mastectomy and breast reconstruction to patients who are appropriate candidates for this type of surgery.
