PLASTIC SURGERY

Q:

Is it true you can do a mastectomy and breast reconstruction at the same time?

A:

I am proud and very happy to say this is true. I recently had a patient from Wisconsin come to me who had right sided breast cancer and needed a bilateral mastectomy and reconstruction. Since I am double board certified in general surgery and plastic surgery, I was able to remove her cancer with a bilateral mastectomy, and then immediately reconstruct both breasts.

This innovative process is called “Oncoplastic surgery,” which combines the latest plastic surgery techniques with breast surgical oncology. I placed gel implants directly under the breast skin after placement of a bio technology material called Alloderm acellular dermal matrix above the pectoral muscle in a single stage, which structurally supports the implant, while adding tissue reinforcement. The Alloderm becomes vascularised with her blood vessels and cells. This procedure innovation is called pre-pec implant reconstruction, and it is FDA approved. This innovation means the patient did not need to have expanders on for up to six months, or placement behind her muscles. It also saved her pain and eliminated an entire surgery.

In her case, I also performed a nipples-paring (or areola-sparing) mastectomy, and a right sided sentinel axillary lymph node dissection, removing lymph nodes from her underarm. Combining all these procedures by one single surgeon at one time is rare, and has many benefits, including financial and time savings, faster recovery time, reduced risk, and emotional considerations. I believe that this is the “procedure of the future” for women diagnosed with breast cancer. If you know of anyone with this condition, please have them contact my office.