Breast reconstruction is a complex process that when skillfully applied using the most advanced techniques available can create a breast very close in shape and feel to your natural breast.

This surgical procedure is a very complex topic, and the information on this webpage should only be a start to your knowledge base. We welcome you to Monterrey Plastic Surgery for a consultation where we will have questions for you and you will undoubtedly have questions us. This discussion will help us formulate a plan together, to create the best possible result with truly personalized care.

In many cases, prior to coming to us, our patients will have already seen a few other physicians and are overloaded with information. Our goal is to guide you through the decision making process, give you clear and concise information that gives clear foresight on your breast reconstruction procedure.

WHAT IS BREAST RECONSTRUCTION?

This procedure involves removal of the entire breast and in more advanced cases, also the lymph nodes from the armpit. Without reconstruction, the result from this operation gives a completely flat contour to the chest wall and a horizontal incision across the front of the breast.

There are a variety of options for using your own tissue for surgical reconstruction of your breast, and in some cases, this is a better option than implant based reconstruction. The two common locations for tissue for breast reconstruction is the skin and fat from the lower abdomen (TRAM flap) and less commonly the latissimus dorsi muscle and overlying skin from the back. When the latissimus is used, there is less natural tissue and an implant may be needed as well.

Breast reconstruction involves surgical procedures performed at the time of a mastectomy, or later after a mastectomy. This allows the creation of a breast with either your own natural tissue or more commonly with an implant.

Monterrey Plastic Surgery

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY

The surgery for this procedure is individualized and the length of the procedure varies greatly. Most breast reconstruction involves tissue expanders and implants and takes about one hour to reconstruct one side. If autologous tissue (your own tissue) is used, these operations are longer and can take 4-16 hours depending on the type of surgery performed.

Surgical reconstruction of your breast is unfortunately not a one operation procedure. We try to keep care to the minimum number of surgical cases, but it is rare that one operation can achieve a good end result. In most cases it takes six months to a year to complete breast reconstruction from start to finish.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these incision locations. We will discuss these with you. The decision of where to place the incision is made at your preoperative visit and depends on your wishes and goals for the surgery.

Over the several weeks following an operation for reconstruction of your breast, you will notice that you are feeling better. There are good days and bad days. Dr. Lara Ontiveros will be available to assist in your care at any time after surgery. He is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will respond any hour of the day. You will be well cared for after the operation.

Dr. Lara Ontiveros and his staff will give you detailed instructions for your postoperative care and activities prior to and after the surgery, but if at any time you have questions that are not answered by the instruction forms, or are unclear, please call or start an online consultation. We are here to help.