Types of Reconstruction Surgery

Breast reconstruction is surgery that is used to rebuild the breast, typically after breast cancer treatment. The goal of breast reconstruction is to restore one or both breasts to their normal shape, appearance, symmetry, and size following mastectomy, lumpectomy, or congenital deformities. Dr. Anke Ott Young, Dr. Mary Pronovost, and Dr. Christine Hodyl of Constructive Plastic Surgery offer reconstruction surgery in Garden City, NY, to help you look and feel your best.

Types of Reconstruction Surgery Offered In Garden City, NY

There are several types of reconstruction surgery, but the most common are implant-based reconstruction or flap reconstruction. When your doctor is helping you determine the best type of reconstruction, they will take the type of mastectomy you had, the cancer treatments you participated in, and your body type into account.

Flap Reconstruction

In flap reconstruction, your surgeon takes tissue from your own body and uses it to form a breast. Usually, they take the tissue from the lower abdomen, but it can also come from the thigh, back, or bottom.

Your surgeon removes fat, skin, blood vessels, and muscle from these parts of your body to form a new breast. This is called a tissue flap. Sometimes, surgeons move a flap through your body, so it retains its own blood supply. Another option is detaching the flap from its blood supply and attaching it to blood vessels in the chest.

Implant Reconstruction

In implant reconstruction, surgeons use saline or silicone implants to recreate breast tissue. Sometimes surgeons use a combination of implants and tissue from your body. 

The types of implant reconstruction are:

  • Under the chest muscle- Your surgeon lifts up the chest muscle and places the implant underneath it
  • Above the chest muscle- Your surgeon places the implant on top of the chest muscle. You may not need as much recovery time because your chest muscle remains in place
  • Implant with tissue expander- Your surgeon places an expander under your skin. About once per week, you or your healthcare provider fills the expander with saline. Your skin gradually stretches, and then your surgeon will place the implant once your skin has expanded enough to cover it

For more information about reconstruction surgery in Garden City, NY, or Trumbull, CT Contact Dr. Ott Young, Dr. Pronovost, and Dr. Hodyl, as well as the Constructive Plastic Surgery team at (516) 742-3404. Schedule an appointment today.

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