Breast Reconstruction in Miami, FL

Breast cancer survivors, who have had a mastectomy as part of their aggressive cancer treatment, or patients who have had their breasts surgically removed due to trauma or injury, may opt to have breast reconstruction surgery to restore their bust line. Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey LaGrasso, offers a number of reconstructive procedures, especially for women desiring to have plastic surgery immediately after their mastectomy. No matter what stage of planning you are in, Dr. LaGrasso will consult with you, and advise you on the best approach to take. By visiting us at our Miami, FL practice, you will plan your treatment alongside Dr. LaGrasso, and he will also take into consideration what your breast or general surgeon recommends as well. Every surgical case will vary, however, we do our best to provide you with a positive experience. Call for a consultation today.

Breast reconstruction surgery performed by Dr. Jeffrey LaGrasso can be conducted for reasons such as breast cancer or trauma. Regardless of why you need this surgery, Dr. LaGrasso and his Miami, FL staff will work with you to help you obtain results that have you feeling satisfied and beautiful. Benefits of breast reconstruction surgery include:

• Availability of several surgical techniques
• Renewing self-confidence
• Achieving proportion and balance in the chest
• Addressing both aesthetic and medical concerns
• Fixing any outstanding issues from prior procedures
• Reliable procedures, minimal risks, and long-lasting results

Reconstruction of the breast(s) is a highly individualized surgery. Each patient will have a thorough consultation appointment with Dr. LaGrasso to determine their treatment plan based on their needs, concerns, and available techniques. If you are planning to have reconstruction, you must have realistic expectations. While Dr. LaGrasso strives to give you a natural appearance, your newly reconstructed breast(s) will not have the same sensations, feel, or look as your original breast(s). If applicable, you should get approval from your oncology doctor to have reconstruction surgery and talk to Dr. LaGrasso about any other factors that may impact your recovery.

Surgical techniques vary and today, patients are getting more options that can match their personal preferences. It is important to find a highly specialized plastic surgeon to perform breast reconstruction and one who will work with the cancer surgeon to achieve a natural result.

Breast implants are a common method used with a reconstruction procedure. When implants are being considered, the reconstruction process is usually performed in a multi-stage treatment session. A tissue expander is placed in between the chest muscle and the skin during the mastectomy. This expander will be gradually filled with a saline solution to expand the skin and eventually replace it with an implant. Sometimes, the saline-filled expander is retained instead of an implant.

Flap procedures harvest skin and muscle tissue from donor sites and transfer it to the breast. The surgeon may choose between one of the following common techniques:

• TRAM flap involves grafting skin and muscle tissues on the lower part of the abdomen.
• DIEP and SIEA flap graft tissue from the lower part of the abdomen, but harvests only the skin and fat tissues instead of muscles.
• Latissimus Dorsi flap uses skin and muscle tissues from the upper back.
• GAP flap uses skin, fat and muscle tissues from the buttocks area.
• TUG flap harvests skin, fat and muscle tissues from the inner thighs near the buttocks area.

When a breast is surgically removed, the nipple and areola are not spared. To recreate this area, skin and muscle tissues are grafted and formed to look like a nipple while the areola is achieved by tattooing. This is done when the breast reconstruction has fully healed.

Breast reconstruction uses general anesthesia, and the patient is often required to stay in a hospital if done simultaneously with the mastectomy. Patients who have flap surgeries sometimes stay up to 5 days for monitoring. There will be discomfort and pain within the first week, and the patient may feel disoriented with the newly formed chest. Temporary drain tubes and bandages are placed to assist in healing. It can be unnerving to go through a major body change; however, patients find it gratifying and relieving that they are able to once again look and feel normal as they start their new journey towards becoming a cancer survivor.

The surgical planning for a breast reconstruction typically begins at the same time as the planning for the mastectomy. There are points to consider such as how soon the patient will have the reconstruction and what type of reconstruction technique is best per the surgical case. It will need to be decided whether implants or tissue grafts are used, what type (if any) nipple and areola reconstruction will be used, and other techniques that are specific to the patient’s circumstance. The general goal is to help the patient regain a normal appearance of the breasts as part of the final phase of breast cancer treatment.

With breast reconstruction, a plastic surgeon will work alongside the cancer surgeon and be primarily involved and responsible as it pertains to restoring the appearance. It is a highly specialized surgery so it is critical to choose a plastic surgeon that has years of successful experiences in this type of surgery.

If a patient knows she will want to restore her breasts with a reconstruction procedure, it is recommended that this process begins at the time as the mastectomy. During the breast removal portion, the tissue expanders can be put into place, which eliminates a new surgery. This ultimately decreases the risk for complications.

Because the breast is completely removed and a new one is formed, there will be a loss of sensation. Over time, there is a possibility that this sensation can be slowly regained. This is different for every patient. While some patients regain their sensitivity, there is no guarantee that this will be the case for everyone.

Breast reduction surgery can affect breastfeeding. While some women can still breastfeed after a surgical reduction, other women cannot. It's difficult to know whether your breast reduction will cause you problems with breastfeeding. This is why Dr. LaGrasso suggests that patients be done having children or be willing to not breastfeed before considering breast reduction surgery.

Your health insurance may pay part of the cost of your surgery if it's deemed medically necessary. If you are considering using your insurance, talk to Dr. LaGrasso so he can help with your insurance claim. You should also talk to your insurance company to determine if your specific policy might pay for the surgery and the information they need to approve it. Your insurance might need measurements like height, weight, body surface area, and body mass index (BMI).

While the breast reconstruction process can take time, it is a very beneficial procedure for patients in Miami, FL and the surrounding areas at Jeffrey LaGrassso, M.D. It can help alleviate breast cancer treatment's emotional and physical impacts while also allowing you to reclaim your figure and self-confidence. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, have had trauma to the chest, or were born with a defect that affects the look of your breasts, we encourage you to contact our Miami, FL office and make an appointment with Dr. LaGrasso.