Breast Implants For Reconstructive Surgery
Breast implants for reconstruction surgery are similar to those used for cosmetic surgery, however the process may be different.
Most women who undergo reconstructive breast surgery do so to remove and reconstruct breasts that have been affected by cancer. A masectomy is performed to remove the affected tissue, then the surgeon may decide to do the following:
One-Stage Immediate Breast Reconstruction
After the mastectomy is performed, a breast implant is immediately inserted into the chest. For this reason, it is called “one-stage” (everything is done at one time).
Two-Stage/Delayed Breast Reconstruction
After affected breast tissue is removed, a tissue expander is inserted. A tissue expander is a shell constructed from silicone and placed under the tissue. It is filled with a sterile saline solution over a few months to allow skin and muscle to gradually stretch. Designed for women with little natural tissue, it allows the area to adapt to an implant. Once it is safe to do so, the tissue expander is removed (or remains in place if it designed to serve as an implant as well) and replaced with a breast implant.
Two-Stage Breast Reconstruction may also be performed if the woman is still undergoing therapy for cancer.
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