Implants for Reconstruction
If you want medical information at its best, Web MD never disappoints. An emotional issue for women is breast reconstruction after mastectomy. I believed that immediate reconstruction meant the implant is filled to correct size immediately during surgery as it is with plastic surgery. That is not the case with mastectomies.
Surgeons often must take large amounts of tissue to get rid of any cancerous tumors, leaving little tissue to cover a new breast. With implants, surgeons generally use a two step procedure. The first surgery establishes a pocket for the implant beneath the muscle where the surgeon places a spacer to expand the skin. Gradually, the expander is filled with air stretching the skin.
The second part of the procedure is performed after the skin reaches the desired size. The surgeon replaces the spacer with a saline or silicone implant.
As with any procedure, there are risks involved with this one. Most of these risks involve bleeding and infection.
What is the success rate for implants? According to Web MD, over 10 years, implants have a rupture rate of between 5-10%. Scar tissue can pose a problem for some women as well.
Do the benefits of breast implants outweigh the risk and the wait? Only the patient can make that decision. Throrough evaluation by a skilled plastic surgeon can help people make informed decisions.
