Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure that rebuilds the breasts, giving back the natural shape, curve, and feel to patients who have had their breasts removed or damaged.
This could be due to a mastectomy as part of breast cancer treatment, or some other trauma. Breast reconstruction surgery is often considered a major milestone on the journey to recovery. At the Plastic Surgery Institute in Beverly Hills breast reconstruction specialists are committed to restoring the health and emotional wellness of our patients through plastic surgery.
Our doctors are founding members of the Surgical Friends Foundation, which helps treat patients around the world. Dr. Ritu Chopra has focused a considerable amount of attention to breast reconstruction in his practice. Dr. Chopra focuses on the most cutting edge reconstructions, becoming an expert in multiple different treatment methods. Your reconstruction is in good hands at the Plastic Surgery Institute.
Many who have lost their breasts or suffered severe breast damage feel as if they lack an important part of themselves. They feel incomplete, especially after a procedure like a partial or complete mastectomy or lumpectomy.
If you have lost breast tissue and feel like it is keeping you from living a complete life, we suggest speaking with one of our board-certified cosmetic surgeons about breast reconstruction. There may be continuing health factors (such as cancer) that impact your eligibility for breast reconstruction. Our doctors can assess your condition and help you determine if you are medically eligible for reconstruction. If you are, and if you feel like you are ready, then breast reconstruction could be your next step toward recovery.
Doctors will stress the importance of preparation as your breast reconstruction surgery date approaches. You will receive a pre-op preparation guide with tips to improve your outcomes. These include starting and/or maintaining good habits and diet, quitting smoking, and designating a “post-op buddy” to help you with your care after the surgery.
On your surgery day, your doctor will meet with you to prep you for surgery and review your surgery plan one more time. You will be given the appropriate level of anesthesia to make sure that you feel no pain during your procedure. Once your surgery begins, your doctor will follow your surgery plan, reshaping the breasts and adding tissue or implants if that was your desire. Breast recovery is an outpatient procedure, so you will be cleared to go home after a short recovery period following the surgery. You will be unable to drive following your surgery, so you will need to arrange transportation home in advance.
At the Plastic Surgery Institute in Beverly Hills breast reconstruction is a specialized procedure that begins with a consultation between you and our doctors. Our doctors tailor your procedure to your body and goals. Your surgeon will also want to know about your current lifestyle and goals, to determine how to conform your surgery to your lifestyle. During your consultation for breast reconstruction Beverly Hills patients will work with a doctor to assess your condition, including:
Generally, our surgeons offer three main types of breast reconstruction: breast reconstruction using implants, breast reconstruction using body tissues, and reconstruction of the nipple and areola. Depending on your individual concerns and desires, our doctors can make further suggestions and recommendations to provide you with options that better suit your situation.
For example, if you have undergone a complete mastectomy, you may opt for breast reconstruction with implants. If you had a partial mastectomy, you may opt for one of the following procedures instead:
These choices are yours to make. At the Plastic Surgery Institute in Beverly Hills, breast reconstruction is a collaboration. Our doctors have the knowledge and skills to tailor your surgery to your desired outcome. Your consultation is the chance to let them know what you want, and to collaborate with them to build your ideal surgery plan.
You can expect some discomfort in the first day or two after the surgery. Pain medication will be provided to help to ease the discomfort. To support the breasts while they heal during the recovery, they may be wrapped in dressings to decrease the risk of infection and speed healing. To minimize bruising and swelling, our surgeons generally advise patients to wear a support bra for up to six weeks post-op.
Your doctor will give you and your surgery buddy specific post-op instructions about how often to change dressings and your specific recovery timeline based on the procedures you select. As for activities, you can resume light walking shortly after surgery to promote healthy blood flow. More strenuous exercises should be suspended for at least a few weeks, depending on the activity. Due to the nature of this procedure, returning to work depends on the type of work that you perform. For example, if working a sedentary office job, the patient may return earlier than someone that works actively in construction. Your doctor can help decide a proper recovery timeline to lessen the possibility of complications later.
The Doctors at the Plastic Surgery Institute love what they do. If you want the highest quality of care from industry leaders who are as approachable as they are professional, you will find a perfect partner for your procedure at the Plastic Surgery Institute in Beverly Hills.
Dr. Ritu Chopra M.S, M.D. is a warm and caring surgeon whose skill in the operating room is unsurpassed. Dr. Chopra specializes in highly technical procedures like deep plane facelifts and breast restoration following cancer or trauma.
Dr. Nathaniel Villanueva, M.D. takes a holistic approach to plastic surgery. Dr. Villanueva helps find solutions that extend long after the initial procedure thanks to his innovative ability to integrate healing wellness practices into his treatment plans.
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It may take several months after breast reconstruction for the final results settle. The swelling from the surgery will remain up to a month or more after the procedure, and breast sensation may take a little longer than that to return. However, the swelling will subside and sensation returns slowly during the recovery process.
At the Plastic Surgery Institute in Beverly Hills, breast reconstruction is personal to us. Dr. Ritu Chopra has close family members who have had to go through the reconstruction process.
He has dedicated much of his practice to understanding and exploring new techniques and treatments to improve outcomes for breast reconstruction patients like you. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about how you can restore your body and your wellbeing through breast reconstruction surgery.
This technique uses your own fat and tissue to add what was lost to the bust. Our surgeons take fat from one area (for example, the glutes) via liposuction, purify it, then inject it into the breasts. Our doctors will resculpt the breast into a more naturally appearing shape and restore the breast mound. Breast reconstruction with fat or tissue transfer is a popular choice for patients who want to avoid using implants as part of their reconstruction.
Sometimes, patients want to have breast reconstruction, yet they may not have enough skin or tissue in their chest area to cover the implants or are seeking lower impact breast reconstruction. Surgeons used the tissue expander technique to loosen and stretch the breast tissues to accommodate implants at a later time. These temporary and expandable implants are inserted in the chest, and doctors fill them over the course of a few months to reach the patient’s desired size. The second procedure will then move the patient into more permanent implants. The surgeon will remove the expanders and then insert the new ones to provide a teardrop shape to the breasts.
Usually the final phase in breast reconstruction, our surgeons take tissue from either the newly created breast or somewhere else (such as the inner thigh) to create the nipple itself. However, this does not come with coloring. Usually, people choose to have the coloring done by tattoo some months after the surgery. Tattooing by itself is also another option available to those that desire it. For those that wish for no more procedures, there are also prosthetic nipples. Made of silicon, these nipple prosthetics attach to the chest and detach with ease whenever the patient chooses. These can be used as an alternative to any further procedures, or at least to give a break before any further reconstruction.
There are two main types of skin flap surgery used in breast reconstruction: free flap and pedicle flap. During free flap surgery, the surgeon completely removes the tissues and blood vessels and places them into the breast. Using microsurgery, the surgeon reconnects the blood vessels to restore proper circulation. During pedicle flap surgery, the surgeon does not remove the tissues completely from their blood vessels. Each method has pros and cons, and your surgeon will discuss these methods with you in more detail during your consultation.
This technique surgeons use restores the appearance of breasts and physique through adding implants of different materials. Patients can customize their new breasts in their shape, size, and projection depending on their end goals and expectations.
No matter what brought you here, a visit with our doctors will bring out the best in you. Call us today to schedule your initial consultation, either in person or online.
465 North Roxbury Drive, Suite 1007, Beverly Hills, CA 90210