subject: Options for Breast Reconstruction Surgery in Houston, TX [print this page] Choosing to undergo breast reconstruction surgery in Houston, TX following a mastectomy is a very emotional and personal decision for any woman. After going through a series of invasive cancer treatments, the last thing any woman wants to think about is having to endure another surgery. However, breast reconstruction surgery offers many benefits beyond restoring a more symmetrical physique. Having breast restoration surgery can give a woman who has lost one or both of her breasts due to breast cancer a renewed sense of femininity and an overall sense of well-being as she begins the road to recovery.
Advancements in reconstructive surgery have given women more breast restoration options to choose from than ever before. The emotional toll of a cancer diagnosis is overwhelming enough, having to face a number of different choices after mastectomy can be confusing and emotionally draining for any woman. The best way to lessen the stress and reduce any apprehensions surrounding this decision is to arm yourself with the appropriate knowledge you need to make a well-informed decision regarding your treatment options post-mastectomy.
The DIEP flap has come to represent the favored method for breast restoration and is the most commonly performed reconstructive procedure by plastic surgeons. Advancements in breast reconstructive surgery have made it possible to use excess fat and skin from the lower abdominal region to construct a new, more natural breast. This is similar to the same fat removal process that is employed during a tummy tuck procedure. So not only will the patient benefit from regaining a softer breast that is more natural in appearance, but she will also have the added benefits of a tummy tuck procedure.
Similar to the DIEP flap, the SIEA flap procedure also utilizes excess abdominal fat and skin removed from the lower abdomen. The key difference between the two lies in the choice of blood vessels that nourish the flap tissue. The blood vessels used for the DIEP flap are contained in the abdominal rectus muscle and advanced microsurgical techniques are employed to safely separate the artery and the vein from the muscle while preserving muscle integrity. The blood vessels used for the SIEA flap on the other hand are more superficial, traveling in the fatty layer of the of the abdominal tissue. This requires less dissection than with the DIEP flap where the blood supply is deeper in the muscle. Due the fact that these vessels are not present in every patient, the decision of which procedure will be performed is made during the surgery itself.
In some cases, the patient may not have an adequate amount of tummy tissue to perform the DIEP or SIEA flap. In these cases, the SGAP flap, (also known as the Superior Gluteal Artery Perforator flap) is the ideal treatment option. In this procedure, the breast can be rebuilt using skin, fat and the tiny blood vessels that are removed from top region of the buttock. A slight buttock lift is then performed to repair the donor area. The IGAP flap on the other hand uses tissue from the bottom area of the buttock.
The TAP flap (also known as the thoracodorsal artery perforator flap) is a small flap that makes use of tissue removed from the area of the side of the breast and back. This flap is an option for small defects like in breast conservation or lumpectomy patients.
The simplest option used for breast reconstruction uses implants alone. This option is generally reserved for patients, that, due to medical reasons are unable to have a more complex surgery like the DIEP flap. This procedure is usually completed in two phases. The first surgery involves placing a tissue expander in the breast region beneath the skin and chest muscle. This expander acts very much like a balloon and will gradually be filled with a salt-water solution around one every two weeks. Once the skin has been stretched over the course of three or four months, the next procedure will replace the tissue expander with a permanent silicone or saline implant. In some cases, patients will not require the expander and the procedure will only consist of one surgery to insert the implant.
These are a few of the more commonly performed procedures performed post-mastectomy. A personalized consultation with your Houston breast reconstruction surgeon will help you decide which procedure is right for you.
Options for Breast Reconstruction Surgery in Houston, TX
By: Tuesday Wilson
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