Breast Surgery

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At Kamol Hospital, we believe every woman deserves to feel confident and beautiful in her own body. Our expert surgeons provide a full range of breast procedures, including breast augmentation, implant revision, breast lift, and reduction, all designed to enhance your natural beauty with balance and harmony. Using advanced techniques and artistic precision, our team is here to ensure your comfort, safety, and stunning results.

Breast Augmentation

Breast Augmentation / Implantation

Breast augmentation is a surgical procedure to enhance a small breast. For some women, a sexy breast look is essential for self-esteem. Breast augmentation surgery will improve your body and make you feel more confident. There are many techniques for breast augmentation, including breast implant and fat transfer.

Incision for Breast Augmentation

There are three standard incisions to insert the breast implants as follows;

1. The periareolar incision is at the junction of the pigmented areolar skin and the natural breast skin. The incision is for aesthetic surgery but passes through the milk duct.  The surgeon requires the incision of 1/3 of the areolar. The advantage of this incision is the scar placed on the border of pigmented skin, which can camouflage.

2. Trans-axillary incision is made in the under armpits, 4-5 cm. The incision in a natural skin crease in the underarm area is used to create a submuscular pocket for breast implant placement. This technique can cause the implant to be a little high because it is hard to put the implant in the expected area. The scar will be visible when raising the arms.

3. Inframammary incision. This area is the most common procedure: 5-6 cm incisions for a breast implant, the inframammary crease incision at the base of the breast. This incision allows direct access to the submuscular or sub-glandular plane and avoids dissection through the milk ducts around the nipple. It is often an incision required for breast implant revision surgery. The scar will be visible.

Breast Implant material

There are two basic types of breast implants: Saline and silicone gel, which need Food and Drug Administration approval (FDA approved).

  • Saline –Filled implants are silicone shells filled with saline. The saline implant is filled with saline during breast implant surgery.
  • Silicone gel-filled implants are silicone shells filled with silicone. The gel implant feels more like natural breasts than saline, but it poses more risk if it leaks.

Both saline and silicone come in different sizes and have either smooth or textured shells. So please consult the broad certified plastic surgeon.

The positioning of a Breast Implant.

We offer three positionings for the placement of breast implants as follows;

  1. Subglandular pocket
  2. Submuscular pocket
  3. Biplanar pocket, Dual plane

A Good Candidate for Breast Augmentation

  1. Realistic in their expectation
  2. Psychologically stable
  3. Good physical health
  4. Not currently pregnant or nursing
  5. 18 years of age or older

Preparation for Breast Augmentation

  • Consult with the surgeon about your expectations, then choose the breast implant type, size, and incision area. The manufacturer of the implant you will be getting and keep the copies for your records. Physical examination, blood test, chest x-ray
  • Stop smoking at least two weeks before and after surgery
  • Stop taking anti-inflammatory medications such as Aspirin and Ibuprofen for at least two weeks. Also, avoid herbal supplements and vitamins, which may increase bleeding during and after surgery

Procedure for Breast Augmentation (Breast Implant)

  1. The operation is done during general anesthesia.
  2.  After opening the incision, the surgeon will separate the breast tissue of your chest to create the pocket upper or lower the outermost muscle of the chest wall ( pectoral muscle) and then insert the implant into the pocket. The surgeon will create and adjust the shape by keeping the implants behind the center of the nipple and balancing the breast. If saline implants, they will insert the empty implant and fill sterile saline with the amount required.
  3. The surgeon will close the incision and bandage it with adhesive and surgical tape
  4. The operation time is 1-2 hours.

Post-operative Care for Breast Augmentation

  • Keep clean and dry the incision wound 2-3 days after surgery
  • Take stitches off seven days after surgery
  • You will need a follow-up appointment for 7 days, 14 days, and one month
  • You will need a massage to prevent the capsular contracture and adjust the positioning implant, making a balanced shape for at least one month to move around the breast, one hour every day
  • While you are healing, you should wear a compression bandage or sports bra for extra support and positioning of the breast implant
  • Sleeping with torso slightly elevated to control bruising and swelling
  • Please don’t lift things over 2-3 kilograms within two months. The lifting will make the breast implants move up
  • Avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks
  • During the healing process, remember that your breast will be sensitive to physical contact or jarring movement for at least two weeks

Recover from Breast Augmentation

You can return to regular activities within a few weeks and avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks.

The breast implant might improve your body image and self-esteem, but keep your expectations realistic. Your breasts will continue to age after the implant, and weight loss or gain will also change the appearance of your breasts. If you feel unsatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you might need more correction surgery.

Risks and Complications for Breast Augmentation

Any operation might be a complication, although a very rare includes

  • Keloid from the incision scar
  • Bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Soreness
  • Poor healing
  • Asymmetry
  • Infection: if you notice warmth and redness in your breast due to fever, you might have an infection; contact the surgeon as soon as possible
  • Shortness breathe, or chest pain
  • Decreased or Lost Sensation
  • Capsular contracture might need a second surgery
  • Skin waves and sagging
  • Implant Failure
  • Risk from anesthesia

 

Breast Implant Revision

Breast Implant Revision in Bangkok, Thailand

Good augmentation surgery result relates to breast size, breast shape, balance, and position. Anyways, limitations to good results from breast implant surgery may be from the skin’s elasticity, internal structure, or less trained- surgeon. The breast augmentation needs to be revised.

Breast implant revision is a surgical procedure for correcting or revising before cosmetic or reconstructive breast surgery to restore a youthful breast contour and appearance. The breast implant revision involves changing the size or type of the implants and correcting any complications resulting from prior surgery.

Why do you have to do breast implant revision?

There are many medical and cosmetic reasons for revising a breast implant surgically. Kamol Cosmetic Hospital is concerned about safety and satisfying outcomes. We evaluate a patient’s needs to ensure the aesthetic results best suit each patient. The following breast conditions are amenable to detailed correction.

1. Implant size problems

Some women with breast implants want to change the size of their breasts. Some want their breasts to be smaller from the prior implant. Exchanging larger implants to smaller ones is more concerned about the redundant breast skin and sagging breast or ptosis. The surgeon will be accompanied by a breast lift procedure to manage the excess skin as a result of downsizing breast implants. The implant capsule needs to be removed in the same operation.

If someone prefers to upsize a breast implant, the surgeon will be concerned about the prior implant’s positioning. If the implants are submuscular, the surgeon will keep this position and create a bigger pocket for the new implant.

If the prior implants are subglandular, the surgeon will change the positioning of the new implants to a submuscular one, create the new pocket, and then insert the new implant into the new pocket. In operation, the surgeon must remove the capsule implant to prevent the new implant’s double bubble effect.

2. Ruptured / Leakage Implants

Breast implants, like any products, leakage or rupture will occur. A saline breast implant might cause a leak at the valve by slowly or loss of breast volume immediately. The saline implant leaks on one side and causes an asymmetry. It is usually evident to the patients. Silicone implant rupture is more difficult to identify and needs to check ultrasound, mammogram, or MRI. The surgery will be done to remove and replace the new implant.

3. Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture is a tissue reaction that forms the capsule around the implant. This capsule can become thicker, more challenging, and tighter, leading to capsular contracture. This scar tissue reduces the movement of the implant, gives the breast an unnatural appearance, and causes discomfort. In treating capsular contracture, the surgeon removes the scar tissue around the implant, and the new implant will be placed in a position different from the chest muscle. (see more)

4. Upward position Implant

The prior breast implant is too high when compared with the nipple. The patient needs to move the implant downward to balance the chest. The revision for the upward breast implant is provided by cutting( Capsulotomy) or removing( Capsulectomy) the capsule implant and creating a new pocket lower than the prior positioning, which concerns the nipple center insert the new implant, then adjusting to balance for the nipple center.

5. Lateral displacement of the implant.

The prior breast implant seems to be too far apart to produce the desired appearance of cleavage. The implant sits behind the natural breasts, making the breasts look too wide to provide the cleavage that patients want.

The surgical procedure to correct this condition will be operated by internal incision and stitches to minimize the side of the previous pocket and toward the body’s midline. The new implants will shift them toward the midline.

6. Bottoming out of breast implants

Bottoming out of breast implants is a result of breast augmentation surgery that may occur. This condition can result from loss of skin elasticity, weak internal muscle, or a less trained surgeon, making the breast implant look too low, and the nipple seems too high. The bottoming out can be fixed by changing the implant and then making the pocket upward, elevating the implant, and suturing the lower border pocket.

7. Rippling

Rippling will occur in particularly thin individuals; ripples from a breast implant can be visible on the skin surface. One option to treat ripples is fat grafting to increase soft tissue volume underneath the skin. Another option is to use the AcellularDermal Matrix ( ADM ) to lay the soft tissue. Both techniques can increase the capacity to camouflage the ripples.

8. Symmastia or Uniboob Correction

Symmastia is a result that may occur from breast implant surgery. The implants may be inserted too close to each other. It may be an effect of an implant that is too large to be inserted in a thin woman with a small rib circumference. Symmastia can be fixed by extending laterally outward from the midline breastbone to create more space between the implants. This procedure will involve incisions under the breasts and expanding the previous pocket to the lateral side. Sutures fix the midline of the chest. The breast results will be separated.

9. Concerning about BIA- ALCL(Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma)

BIA-ALCL is a rare and highly treatable type of lymphoma that can develop around the breast implants and may occur in patients who have breast implants with textured surfaces. BIA-ALCL is a cancer of the immune system, not a type of breast cancer.

Common symptoms include breast enlargement, pain, asymmetry, a lump in the breast or armpit, skin rash, breast hardening, or extensive fluid collection. The symptoms will occur from 1 year to 8-10 years. If you have any symptoms, see the doctor for evaluation. You need to remove the implant, and the tissue scar around the breast implant includes a lump. You need to remove the implant and tissue scar around the breast implant, including lumps and treatment.

A good candidate for breast implant revision

  • Cosmetic concerns with the result of previous surgery due to poor implant or other problem
  • Capsular contracture requires the release of scar tissue through Capsulectomy or Capsulotomy
  • Good physical health
  • Realistic in their expectation
  • Psychologically stable
  •  Not currently pregnant or nursing

Preparation of Breast Implant Revision

  • Consult with the surgeon for your unsatisfying and expected results. The surgeon and patient will discuss and evaluate how to solve the needs together. Breast implant revision is complicated. There are many techniques to revise the breast implant, depending on the causes and the patient’s needs. The surgeon will explain, including incision scar location, shape, size, and positioning.
  • A physical examination, blood test, and chest x-ray are required.
  • Stop smoking at least two weeks before and after surgery
  • Stop taking anti-inflammatory medications such as Aspirin or ibuprofen for at least two weeks. Also, avoid herbal supplements and vitamins, which may increase bleeding during and after surgery.

Procedure for Breast Implant Revision

Please keep in mind that the second surgery is more complicated than the prior breast augmentation. Several reasons, such as the presence of scar tissue, make it more difficult to predict a good result, in addition to the stretching of muscles or anatomical changes caused by the prior implant. That is the challenge for the surgeon.

  1. The operation is done during general anesthesia.
  2. The procedure is done as surgery, depending on the reasons; breast revision usually swaps out the old implant for the new one. It can include a breast lift, release of scar tissue, and change the size, shape, and location of the pocket(space for the implant sits)
  3. The surgeon will close the incision and bandage it with adhesive and surgical tape.

The operation time is 1-4 hours, depending on a complicated breast implant from the previous.

Post-operative Care for Breast Implant Revision

The post-operative care for breast implant revision is similar to their previous breast augmentation to minimize any post-operative discomfort after surgery, which can be done as follows;

  • Keep clean and dry the incision wound 2-3 days after surgery.
  • Apply a cold compress to control bruising and swelling
  • Sleeping with torso slightly elevated to control bruising and swelling
  • Take medicine for pain relief.
  • Take stitches off seven days after surgery.
  • You will need a follow-up with every appointment.
  • You should wear a compression bra for extra support and positioning to prevent fluid accumulation and control swelling.
  • Please don’t lift more than 2-3 kilograms within six weeks. The lifting will cause the implants to move up.
  • Avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks.

Risks and Complications for Breast Implant Revision

Any operation might have complications, including.

  • Keloid from the incision scar
  • Bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Itching
  • Soreness
  • Poor healing
  • Asymmetry
  • Infection: if you notice warmth and redness in your breast due to fever, you might have an infection; contact the surgeon as soon as possible
  • Shortness breathe, or chest pain
  • Decreased or Lost Sensation
  • Capsular contracture might need a second surgery
  • Skin waves and sagging
  • Implant Failure
  • Risk from anesthesia

Recovery for Breast Implants Revision

The recovery is similar to the previous breast implant, with minimal discomfort. In most cases, recovery time for breast implant revision is short, and one can return to work within a few days with a modulated discomfort. However, The length of breast implant revision recovery will depend on the type of surgery performed.

  • Placement: The recovery time is the same as the primary breast augmentation. If the implant is bigger, it will take more time, maybe 4-5 days. The discomfort symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, and bruising. New implants may take several weeks or months to settle the final result, such as numbness and tingling around the incision.
  • Recovery after breast implant replacement with lifting, the recovery time will take more time for discomfort, can return to work, maybe one week: healing process, sensation around the incision area, swelling, pain, or seroma. The patients need to take a compression bra to improve swelling, excrete seroma, and keep the positioning.
  • During the breast implant revision recovery, patients should avoid moderate to strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least six weeks.
Breast Lift

Breast Lift Surgery / Mastopexy in Bangkok, Thailand

A woman’s breast profile often changes shape, size, or ptosis. Losing skin elasticity and firmness leads to breast ptosis. A breast lift or Mastopexy is a surgical procedure to lift, reshape, and tighten the breasts. Sometimes, the areola becomes too oversized. The surgeon will reduce the balance during the same operation. A breast lift cannot make the upper part of the breast look fuller.

In some cases, they need breast augmentation with a breast lift. In some cases, the breast size is too big compared to the body. The patients require breast reduction surgery with a breast lift.

Breast Lift Technique

Various incision patterns will be determined based on breast size and shape, and the size and position of the areolar will include a degree of ptosis and skin elasticity.  Kamol Cosmetic Hospital Bangkok offers 3 incision patterns for Breast lift procedures as follows;

  • The incision around the areolar (O- Scar)

Breast Lift by Keyhole Scar

  • The incision around the areolar and vertically down from the areolar to the breast crease (Keyhole- Scar)

Breast Lift by Inverted T-Scar

  • The incision around the areolar, vertically down from the areolar to the breast crease and horizontally along the breast crease. (Inverted T -Scar)

A good candidate for Breast Lift Surgery

You will be the right candidate if you have

  • Feeling your breasts sag or lose shape and volume
  • A flatter breast, elongated shape, or pendulous
  • The nipples fall below the breast crease
  • The nipples and areolar point downward
  • Stretched skin and enlarged areolar
  • One breast is lower than the other.
  • Physically healthy and stable weight.

Preparation for Breast Lift Surgery

  • Consult with the surgeon about your goals, lab test, and medical evaluation
  • Stop smoking at least two weeks before and after surgery
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements that may increase bleeding

Procedure for Breast Lift

  1. Anesthesia, we offer general anesthesia
  2. For the incisions, we offer three incision patterns, depending on the degree of ptosis—the areolar and nipple position. The surgeon marks the incision following the required design.
  3. After opening the incision, the breast tissue is lifted and adjusted in shape. The nipples and areolas are moved up to a natural look. If the patient has enlarged areolas, they are reduced by excising the skin. The excess breast tissue and skin are removed to tighten.
  4. Suture tissue is used to create the breast shape by absorbable sutures, followed by skin sutures or medical tape to close the skin.

Post-operative Care for Breast Lift Surgery

The post-operative care for a breast lift is similar to breast augmentation to minimize any post-operative discomfort after surgery can be done as follows;

  • You should wear a compression bra for extra support and positioning to prevent fluid accumulation and control swelling.
  • Sleeping with torso slightly elevated to control bruising and swelling
  • The dressing will be applied to the incisions until stitches are off seven days after surgery.
  • Keep clean and dry the incision every day.
  • Take medicine for pain relief.
  • Take stitches off seven days after surgery.
  • You will need a follow-up for every appointment
  • Avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks

Risks and Complications from Breast Lift Surgery

Any operation might have complications, including:

  • Keloid from the incision scar
  • Bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Itching
  • Soreness
  • Poor healing
  • Asymmetry
  • Infection: if you notice warmth and redness in your breast due to fever, you might have an infection; contact the surgeon as soon as possible
  • Decreased or lost sensation
  • Capsular contracture might need a second surgery
  • Risk from anesthesia

Recovery for Breast Lift Surgery

The recovery is similar to breast implant revision, with minimal discomfort.  However, The length of the breast lift will depend on the type of incision performed.

  • Recovery after breast lift with the O-scar. The patients feel mild discomfort for a few days but can return to work within a few days.
  • Recovery after a breast lift with a keyhole scar or Inverted T scar may take more time, maybe 4-5 days. The discomfort symptoms include Pain, stiffness, swelling, and bruising. It may take several weeks or months to settle the final result, such as numbness or tingling around the incision.
  • Recovery after breast implant replacement with lifting: The recovery time will take more time due to discomfort. The patient can return to work in maybe one week. The patients need to wear a compression bra to support them, improve swelling, excrete seroma, and maintain their positioning.

During the breast lift recovery, patients should avoid moderate to strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least six weeks.

Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction in Bangkok, Thailand

Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the breast, including excess skin, fat, and breast glands. People with oversized breasts usually have discomfort symptoms such as neck and shoulder pain, chronic rash under the breasts, difficulty fitting with clothing and bras, and poor self-image confidence. Breast reduction surgery will improve the physical and body image.

Kamol Cosmetic Hospital offers 2 techniques for breast reduction as follows;

1. Breast reduction by Keyhole-scar

The incision is around the areolar and vertically down to the breast crease. This technique is suitable for breast sizes that are not too large. This advantage is a less scar than an inverted T scar.

2. Breast Reduction Inverted T-scar

For patients with significantly large breasts, the surgeon will make an incision in the skin that takes the form of an inverted T-scar (Picture 2), remove the excess fat, and adjust the shape. The size is reduced to the patient’s preference. This technique is available for every size, but the scar is more visible than a Keyhole scar.

The procedure takes approximately three to five hours, depending on the breast size. Patients and surgeons have to determine what the desired results will be before the process.

A good candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery

  • You feel your breasts are too large
  • You have realistic expectations
  • Physical healthy
  • Don’t smoke before and after two weeks.
  • You feel neck, shoulder, and back pain caused by the weight of your breasts.
  • You have shoulder indentations from bra straps.

Preparation for Breast Reduction Surgery

  • Consult with the surgeon about your goals, lab test, and medical evaluation
  • Stop smoking at least two weeks before and after surgery
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements that may increase bleeding

Procedures for Breast Reduction Surgery

The technique used to reduce the size of your breasts will be determined by individual conditions and the amount of mass breast reduction. The steps of the reduction procedures are as follows;

  1. Step of general anesthesia
  2. The incision for breast reduction is an inverted T-scar.
  3. Remove breast mass and excess skin, then reshape the breast to make balance.
  4. Closing the incisions

Post-operative Care for Breast Reduction Surgery

The post-operative is similar to a breast lift. To minimize any post-operative discomfort after surgery, it can be done as follows;

  • You should wear a compression bra for extra support and positioning to prevent fluid accumulation and control swelling.
  • Sleeping with torso slightly elevated to control bruising and swelling
  • The dressing will be applied to the incisions until stitches are off seven days after surgery.
  • Keep clean and dry the incision every day.
  • Take medicine for pain relief.
  • Take stitches off seven days after surgery.
  • You will need a follow-up for every appointment.
  • Avoid strenuous activities for at least two weeks.

Risks and Complications for Breast Reduction Surgery

Any operation might have complications, including.

  • Keloid from the incision scar
  • Bleeding
  • Bruising
  • Itching
  • Soreness
  • Poor healing
  • Asymmetry
  • Infection: if you notice warmth and redness in your breast due to fever, you might have an infection; contact the surgeon as soon as possible
  • Decreased or lost sensation
  • Capsular contracture might need a second surgery
  • Risk from anesthesia

Recovery for Breast Reduction Surgery

The recovery is similar to a breast lift, with minimal discomfort. However, The length of the breast reduction by inverted T-scar may take 4-5 days. The discomfort symptoms include pain, stiffness, swelling, and bruising. It may take several weeks or months to settle the final result, such as numbness and tingling around the incision. During the breast lift recovery, patients should avoid moderate to strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least six weeks.

Breast Reconstruction

What is Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

Breast reconstruction surgery is a surgical procedure that aims to rebuild the shape and appearance of a breast after a mastectomy (removal of the breast) or lumpectomy (removal of a portion of the breast). The surgery aims to restore the natural shape and size of the breast, as well as the nipple and areola (the dark area around the nipple).

Several different techniques can be used for breast reconstruction surgery, including using a breast implant, tissue from another part of the body (such as the abdomen or back), or a combination of both. The type of reconstruction best for a particular patient will depend on factors such as the patient’s overall health, the size and shape of the breast, and the patient’s preferences.

Breast reconstruction surgery can be done at the same time as the mastectomy or lumpectomy (immediate reconstruction) or a later date (delayed reconstruction). Many women choose to have breast reconstruction after a mastectomy to improve their body image and self-esteem, but it’s not necessary for everyone. Some women choose not to have the surgery, while others may not be good candidates due to health or other factors. Women need to discuss the pros and cons of breast reconstruction with their surgeons and make the decision that is best for them.

A good candidate for Breast Reconstruction Surgery

  1. The patient must have completed the therapy for breast cancer
  2. The patient needs to revise the breast scar that causes a burn or accident.
  3. No previous radiation on the breast areas
  4. Stop smoking
  5. No active connective tissue diseases such as SLE, Rheumatoid disease, and scleroderma

Kamol Cosmetic Hospital offers two main options for Breast Reconstruction.

  • Reconstruction with implants: The surgeon inserts a silicone gel or saline-filled prosthesis inside the cavity under the muscle. Before inserting the implants, the surgeon may use a tissue expander technique for fragile skin and scarring.
  • Reconstruction with flaps: Kamol Cosmetic Hospital offers a variety of flaps for breast reconstruction as follows:
    • TRAM flap (Transverse rectus abdominis muscle flap): the surgeon uses the skin, parts of the rectus muscle, and fat below the umbilicus with the vascular pedicle. Then, it moves to the breast area. This technique is the most reliable, but the patient will lose parts of the rectus muscle and might have a weakness in the abdominal wall.
    • DIEP flap (Deep inferior epigastric perforator flap): The surgeon uses skin and fat without muscle and then moves to the breast area with a microsurgery technique. This method can preserve the abdominal muscle function but takes risks of vessel thrombosis with microsurgery.
    • Other flaps, such as the LD-flap (latissimus dorsi flap), may be used as alternative flaps depending on the patient’s preference and other limitations.

Preparation for Breast Reconstruction Surgery

  • Consult with the surgeon about your goals, lab test, and medical evaluation
  • Stop smoking at least two weeks before and after surgery
  • Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements that may increase bleeding

Post-operative Care for Breast Reconstruction Surgery

  1. Reconstruction with implantation
    1. Keep bandage for 7th days after surgery
    2. Remove stitches on the 7th day
    3. The patient may need breast massage depending on the type and shape of the implants.
    4. The nipple and areola reconstruction can be reconstructed in the second stage.
  2. Reconstruction with flaps: the patient needs more specialized care.
    1. If a pedicled TRAM-flap is used, the patient needs to maintain light activity for at least two weeks after surgery.
    2. For DIEP flaps with the microsurgery technique, the patient needs hospitalization for at least seven days and limited activity for four weeks.

Risks and Complications for Breast Reconstruction Surgery

  1. Flap loss: The surgeon will use the most reliable flap for each patient. However, in some situations and individual cases, the patient might need better wound healing and more blood supply due to the previous treatment.
  2. Delayed wound healing: mainly occurred in case of fragile skin
  3. Loss of breast sensation
  4. Bleeding, hematoma, and seroma
  5. Surgical wound infection
  6. Abdominal wall weakness/Loss of sensation at the donor site
  7. Unfavorable results: The patient might notice the new breast’s unequal, symmetric, or unnatural look, particularly in flap reconstruction.

Recovery from Breast Reconstruction Surgery

The recovery of breast reconstruction varies depending on the surgical technique performed.

  1. The patient who has reconstruction with the implants needs two weeks for the recovery time
  2. If a tissue expander is used, the patient needs to expand the pocket by gradually increasing the volume for about 4-6 weeks before inserting the implants. The patient will need to stay longer than with simple implantation.
  3. The patient who has undergone reconstruction with flap needs to stay for the recovery around 2-4 weeks.
  4. The patient who has undergone the flap technique must wait 6-12 months for secondary nipple-areola reconstruction.

How to recover from Cancer-Related Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

Recovering from cancer-related breast reconstruction surgery can take several months. The specific recovery process will depend on the type of surgery you had, but generally, it’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions for post-operative care, which may include:

  • Resting and limiting physical activity: You may need to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting for several weeks after surgery.
  • Incision care: Your surgeon will give you instructions on how to care for your incisions, which may include keeping them clean and dry and changing bandages as directed.
  • Pain management: You may experience some pain and discomfort after surgery, and your surgeon may prescribe medication to help manage it.
  • Monitoring for complications: It’s essential to monitor for signs of infection, bleeding, or other complications and to contact your surgeon if you notice anything unusual.

You may also need to attend follow-up appointments with your surgeon to monitor your recovery and address any issues that may arise. Additionally, taking care of your overall health is important, as is eating a balanced diet, getting enough rest, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Physical therapy or occupational therapy may be recommended to help restore range of motion, strength, and function.

It’s also important to seek out support from friends and family, as well as professional support groups, to help cope with the physical and emotional effects of breast cancer surgery.

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September 6, 2016March 10, 2026
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Services, Services, Surgery