Breast Reconstruction: Barriers To The Procedure After Mastectomy

Too often, women have to give up their breasts if they want to beat breast cancer. The decision to have a mastectomy is not an easy one and it is one that has to be made when her life is already in chaos. One thing that helps make the decision easier knows that there are options for breast reconstruction. However, not all women are good candidates for some of the different options.

Here are some of the barriers to having reconstruction after a mastectomy:

- Not cancer-free- If treatment is still on-going, it is better to hold off if implants are the choice. Radiation and chemotherapy can damage the implants.

- Poor physical and emotional health- The body has been through so much, fighting the cancer and trying to function normally day after day. It already has an up-hill battle recovering from the mastectomy. Additional surgery may be too much to ask of the body until it is in good health.

The emotional aspect is also important. When the body and mind are depressed, healing is hindered. Before deciding to re-build the breast, therapy is a good idea if a woman is feeling overwhelmed.

- Smokers and diabetics- These women are not good candidates for the flap technique. This is because the vessels are constricted. For the flap techniques, the surgeon needs healthy vessels he can remove from the donor site and reattached to the tissue.

- Prior tummy tuck surgery- A TRAM flap technique is not recommended for a woman who has had a tummy tuck. This is because the TRAM flap actually removes tissue and muscle from the abdomen.

- Obesity/Lack of excess tissue- The flap techniques are not recommended for women who are obese. On the flip side, they cannot use the flap technique if there isn't enough excess tissue to take from the donor site.

- Inability to save surrounding breast tissue- If the surgeon cannot save the skin or surrounding tissue, it becomes more difficult to re-build the area. Skin grafts and donor tissue can be used. If implants are desired, it is unlikely that the end result will be the same size as the original breast.

Most of the barriers revolve around the different flap techniques where donor tissue comes from the latissimus dorsi, abdomen or buttocks. Implants can typically be used for anyone who is comfortable having them.

Before a mastectomy, women considering reconstruction should discuss their options with their surgeon. Spacers or implants can be inserted once the diseased tissue is removed. This eliminates the need for additional surgery. However, if the decision has not been made yet, once the incisions from the mastectomy have healed, breast reconstruction can be performed- either implants or the flap technique.

About the Author:
Using various techniques in breast reconstruction, Charleston based expert can help women to reshape their breast making firmer and shapelier enhancing overall body contour. To know about the various procedures, visit http://www.oneillplasticsurgery.com

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Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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