Breast reconstruction

If a woman is considering breast reconstruction before having her breast removed, she should consult a plastic surgeon to discuss her situation. This way, the plastic surgeon can coordinate with the treating physicians and surgeons to plan the breast removal in a way that makes subsequent reconstruction as suitable as possible. The timing of the actual reconstruction is primarily determined by the treating oncologist.

Methods of reconstruction

It depends on how much tissue from the original breast remains. Naturally, it also depends on the quality of the tissue. If there is enough breast tissue available, ideally, a fat transfer, an implant, or a combination of both methods can be used.

Lipografting (Fat transfer)

Using a gentle liposuction method, fat is removed from the patient’s body, typically from the abdomen and thighs, to serve as breast filler. The significant advantage of this method is that the breast is filled with autologous material, which is well accepted in its new location without complications. However, the body can only accommodate a certain amount of fat in a single procedure, as the surrounding tissue needs to integrate with the fat and properly nourish it. Excess fat that does not integrate will not survive at the new site. For this reason, the procedure is repeated about four times to achieve the desired breast volume. In the GIA clinic, we use the Body-Jet liposuction device for fat transfer, which allows us to remove fat cells using a water jet without damaging them. This technique enables us to retain up to 85% of the fat cells at the new location.

Implants

Implants are one of the most important aids in breast reconstruction today. Although there is a wide range of implants available today, it is important to choose the most suitable one. This is where the experience of a plastic surgeon is invaluable. Since its establishment, GIA Clinic has cooperated with all reputable manufacturers of breast implants represented on the Czech market. Therefore, we believe that we can impartially compare the advantages and disadvantages of individual implants for a particular reconstruction and choose the right one. If only one breast has been removed, modeling of the healthy breast can be suggested to achieve symmetry.

Fat trasnfer+ Implants

A relatively common method of breast reconstruction aims to create a new breast that looks as natural as possible, with the scars from the removal being as inconspicuous as possible. Since this is a combined technique, there are various options that will be discussed in detail with the patient during the consultation.

If a significant amount of tissue has been removed and the skin on the breast has grown without providing enough space for the implant, the necessary space must first be created. The solution is a tissue expander, which is surgically placed under the skin and remains there for several months. The expander is gradually filled with sterile saline until the tissue eventually expands to the desired size due to its elasticity. The filling of the expander’s volume is done on an outpatient basis, where the solution is introduced through an integrated injection port. The expander is removed when the permanent implant is placed.

After a successful reconstruction, it is usually necessary to restore the breast and the nipple.