serving greater boston area
Breast Reconstruction
Restore Your Optimal Contours with Breast Reconstruction at Longwood Plastic Surgery
Breast reconstruction is a highly customized procedure designed to restore breasts to their pre-trauma state. The procedure can address lost breast volume as well as contour the breast for a fuller shape with a natural look and feel. Longwood Plastic Surgery has helped countless women improve their overall quality of life through breast reconstruction and enhancement procedures.
How Does Breast Reconstruction Work?
Breast reconstruction is performed to rebuild a part or all of a woman’s breast following a partial or complete mastectomy. This can be done at the time of the mastectomy (immediate) or months or years later (delayed).
There are many different types of breast reconstruction. Broadly, however, there are two groups:
- Implant-Based Reconstruction
- Flap Reconstruction (also known as autologous reconstruction)
Implant reconstruction uses a breast implant to help rebuild the shape and volume of your breast. Autologous reconstruction uses your own tissue to do the same. At times a combination of both techniques will yield the best result.
Our plastic surgeons are proud to be able to offer a variety of reconstructive options for these patients. At Cambridge Hospital, Dr. Reformat works in collaboration with their breast surgeon Dr. Amy Moldrem to provide reconstructive options for patients who are indicated for either partial or full mastectomies. We take pride in the opportunity to restore confidence in these patients.
Breast reconstruction surgery is 2 surgeries in 1. Our main priority is fully removing the cancer. Next, if reconstruction is desired, we discuss various options whether this be using the patient’s own tissue, or using implants.
As said by Dr. Reformat “Consider our meeting the start of a conversation. I’m going to give you some information and you’re going to give me some information. We don’t have to make any decisions today.”
For those considering breast reconstruction, a wonderful resource is Breastcancer.org On this website there is a section dedicated to “Breast Reconstruction”
Check out this video interview!
(Courtesy of Cambridge Health Alliance)
before & after gallery
Breast Reconstruction
*Individual results may vary.
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Reconstruction?
Ideally, a breast reconstruction patient should be in otherwise good general health. As with any surgical procedure, patients who are non-smokers tend to have the best outcomes. Patients should have realistic expectations about what reconstructive surgery can and cannot accomplish.
It is important to remember that breast reconstruction rebuilds a woman’s breast but results vary widely.
- There will always be some type of asymmetry
- The reconstructed breast may not have normal sensation
- You may have visible scars on your breasts and other parts of your body
- You may require secondary procedures
- There may be weakness or tightness in the donor area
During your appointment, your physician will review the surgical plan from your breast surgeon and medical plan from your oncologist. Based on this information and your body they will explain the best type of breast reconstruction specifically for you. In the end, you make the final decision, guided by our years of experience in this field.
Breast Reconstruction
FAQ’s
Take the Next Step
If you would like to schedule an in-person consultation, please fill out the form on this page or call (617) 383-6250 and one of our knowledgeable medical staff members at Longwood Plastic Surgery will reach out to you promptly.
