Breast reconstruction surgery is usually done at the same time as the surgery for the removal of cancerous tissue; however, it can be done at a later date, due to circumstances or personal preference. When done in conjunction with the cancer removal surgery, it has both physical and psychological advantages, as you do not have to undergo major surgery more than once, and when you do wake up, you know that underneath the bandages are at least the beginnings of your new breast.
Type of Reconstruction Surgery
Reconstruction surgery consists of one of two basic types: either replacing the breast tissue with implants, or using skin, muscle and fat from other parts of the woman's body, which can include the stomach, buttocks, or back area to construct a breast.
Whenever possible, the surgeon will also try to spare as much of the skin that covered the original breast. This will prevent the necessity of large skin grafts having to be performed, and will present a better appearance, as the skin over the breast will more closely match the skin on the surrounding area.
Women who are facing reconstructive surgery may see this as an opportunity to have the larger bust size they have always wanted. If this is your mindset, then you may want to tell your surgeon and plastic surgeon that you prefer implant reconstruction, as this will allow you more choices in choosing your breast size.
Picking Your Breast Size
Choosing the size of your new breast will be discussed with your surgeon and plastic surgeon before the operation. How large your new breast size can be will depend on the type of reconstruction that will be done, the size of your chest wall and the surrounding area, and, if implantation was the option, the type of implants used.
If you take advantage of reconstruction surgery to increase your bust size, remember that this will affect both breasts. If only one breast is being removed, surgery will have to be performed on both the cancerous breast and the unaffected one so that they will match.
From there, you will need to decide exactly how big you want to be. You will want to keep your overall appearance in mind, including your frame size and body proportions.
If you have always been flat-chested, and just want to have a flattering figure, you might want to be a bit conservative in picking your breast and settle for a B or C cup size. If, however, you have always wanted your bosom to be the first thing anyone noticed, then go up to the D or DD size.
Remember, however, you only have so much skin on and around the chest area, even if the surgery itself is going to be skin-saving. Larger breasts will require more skin, which will have to be taken from other areas of the body.
Also, your bone structure and muscle mass must be considered. A small-boned woman with minimal/normal muscle mass simply may not be able to carry the weight of extremely large breasts.
Type of Implants Used
No matter what size you have in mind, remember that breast implants themselves are filled with one of two materials, either silicone or saline. Silicone implants have a more natural feel, and the ones used today are safer than the ones that caused health problems several years ago, although there is still the risk of the implant rupturing and silicone being released into the body. However, the size of the implant must be chosen before it is inserted, and the size cannot be changed without removing the old implant and inserting a new one.
Saline implants, on the other hand, do allow for size preference. This is because the implant material is inserted, then gradually filled with saline until the desired size is reached.
This actually has a two-fold advantage. Because a few days, usually a week, passes between additions of saline, the skin has time to stretch and settle over the breast as the size is increased. This reduces or eliminates a lot of discomfort that can be caused by the skin adjusting to the implant.
Also, while you are waiting for each saline addition, you will have an idea of how heavy your new breasts are going to feel. You may discover that you are satisfied with only a slight increase in breast size.
Tags: breast size, have always, will have, your breast, your surgeon plastic
