Implant Breast Reconstruction in Austin

Name: Implant Reconstruction
Brand: Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

An implant breast reconstruction at Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery can help you restore your breast shape and feminine physique after undergoing a mastectomy.

Restore Your Lost Breast Volume With Implant Breast Reconstruction in Austin

A diagnosis of breast cancer changes life in an instant and is the beginning of a journey filled with medical tests and treatments to eliminate the disease. For many women, breast reconstruction is a critical step in the recovery process, both as a celebration of beating the disease and to produce a feeling of wholeness and health again. If you’re considering reconstruction either before or after your mastectomy, reconstruction with breast implants from Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery may be the right choice for you.

What Is Implant Breast Reconstruction?

Implant breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure performed to restore the shape, volume, and overall appearance of the breasts, usually after undergoing a mastectomy procedure. During this reconstructive procedure, customized breast implants are inserted into the patient’s chest, restoring the size and appearance of their breasts.

Implant Options for Breast Reconstruction

At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, our reconstructive plastic surgeons use silicone breast implants for patients seeking breast reconstruction due to their more natural look and feel. Long-term safety studies have established the safety of silicone breast implants. These silicone implants come in both teardrop (anatomical) and round shapes, each of which will produce a slightly different visual effect. Your surgeon will help you determine the right shape for you based on your body proportions and your desired result to give you a natural, balanced appearance.

What to Expect During Your Implant Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Before you undergo breast reconstruction surgery, you’ll sit down for a private consultation with one of our expert reconstructive plastic surgeons. They will examine your breasts and talk with you about your specific goals for your reconstruction procedure. They will also take a full medical history including a complete summary of your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment path. Our breast reconstruction team is made up of plastic surgeons experienced in both traditional and advanced reconstruction techniques, including breast implants. For some women, advanced breast reconstruction techniques can be used to achieve superior results using their own living tissue to restore the size and shape of the breast(s). During your consultation, your surgeon will help you decide whether you’re best suited to implant breast reconstruction or one of our more advanced reconstruction methods.

The First Step of Your Procedure

For many patients, the first step in breast reconstruction involves the placement of a breast tissue expander underneath the breast skin, which is often done at the same time as the mastectomy. This breast-shaped device features an easy-to-access port so that it can regularly be adjusted to create sufficient space for the breast implant. This inflatable device is wrapped in a regenerative support scaffold called AlloDerm® and placed under the mastectomy skin. Surgery to insert the expander takes about two hours, and your surgeon will inject a long-lasting pain-blocking medication to reduce postoperative pain. Most patients go home on the same day as the surgery. Several drains are placed into the breast during this surgery and will remain for one to two weeks to prevent fluid buildup and infection in the surgical site. Depending on the desired size of your new breasts, the tissue expander will be adjusted every one to two weeks at our office through the addition of saline through the port. The expander is gradually inflated like a balloon over a period of a few months until the skin and muscle can accommodate your desired implant size.

The Second Step of Your Procedure

The next step of your implant breast reconstruction procedure will take place about three months after your tissue expander is placed.

On the day of your surgery, you’ll be administered general anesthesia to keep you comfortably sleeping throughout the surgery.

Depending on your specific treatment plan, your surgeon will begin by making small incisions either along the folds beneath the breasts, around the nipples, or in the armpits.

They will then remove the tissue expander before carefully inserting your customized breast implants. Finally, they will close the incisions with sutures and apply bandages to the area.

After the surgery, you’ll need to be monitored for a couple of hours to ensure that you don’t suffer any complications. After that, you can have a friend or family member drive you home.

Implant Breast Reconstruction Recovery

Recovery from the surgeries involved with reconstruction with breast implants will vary depending on many different factors, such as whether you have the reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy and whether you are having the expander placed. Most women are back to their day-to-day activities within about two weeks, but it’s best to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise for at least four to six weeks. You’ll experience swelling, bruising, and soreness during your recovery, and you may be given a surgical support bra to wear for several weeks.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Implant Breast Reconstruction?

Women who would like to restore the shape and volume of their breasts after a mastectomy could be good candidates for implant breast reconstruction in Austin with our team. The procedure can also be an effective option for women who are planning to undergo a mastectomy in the near future. To be an ideal candidate for the surgery, you should meet the following criteria:

You have sufficient healthy breast skin to create a pocket for the breast implant
You will not be undergoing radiation treatment that can significantly affect the short- and
long-term success of a procedure involving breast implants
You prefer to avoid flap reconstruction
You have realistic expectations for the procedure

Why Choose Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery for Your Implant Breast Reconstruction in Austin?

At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, we have a team of highly qualified plastic surgeons and microsurgeons specializing in breast-related procedures. Over the years, our award-winning surgeons have performed successful reconstruction procedures for over 6,000 patients. We take great pride in helping thousands of women restore their self-confidence, femininity, and voluptuous figures after experiencing the trauma of a breast cancer diagnosis. Throughout the process of your breast reconstruction, you’ll be treated with respect, compassion, and personalized care. If you’d like to learn more or schedule a private consultation, contact our office today.