Breast Reconstruction Surgery After Mastectomy (09-2007)
Most of more than 200,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer this year will have a lumpectomy to remove just the tumor from their breast. Unfortunately, for many woman a more radical procedure, a mastectomy will be necessary, to be followed by breast reconstruction. The questions surrounding the reconstructive procedure are when should it be done, and is it safe?
Many women are opting to have breast reconstruction contiguous to their mastectomies, because a large number of study results show that doing so is as safe as doing them in separate procedures. In addition, studies have shown that there is no increased risk of the cancer reoccurring in women who opt for reconstruction.
Especially of interest is evidence from a recent study which found that women who chose to have breast reconstruction had a better survival rate than women who did not have the surgery. Tests results are hard to analyze. Perhaps, researchers say, it is because women who opt for reconstructive surgery immediately after breast surgery are healthier physically and emotionally. Perhaps those women go back to their doctors more often, or perhaps they take better care of themselves after surgery.
There are a several different reconstructive procedures which your doctor will discuss with you, so you may make an educated decision on which you and your doctor are in agreement and with which you are comfortable.
Facelift Alternatives for Loose Neck Skin?
If you’re unhappy with the "wattle" of loose skin under your chin, there may be an alternative other than a facelift. There are several ways for plastic surgeons to treat the loose skin under your neck that gets its nickname (wattle) from the turkey. In younger patients, we may be able to use liposuction to remove the fatty deposits which are what creates the wattle effect. If you are middle-aged, and your skin is naturally a bit less elastic, we may be able to effect a change with an incision under your chin, behind your ears. The fatty deposits can be removed through that incision. That, in conjunction with tightening of muscles, may indeed, “cure” your wattle. Researchers who have used these techniques have found moderate to marked improvement in patients. Unfortunately, for patients past middle age who wish to rid themselves of this problem, a complete facelift is most probably necessary. As always, with any procedure, realistic expectations, as explained to you by your doctor, yield the best results.
Many women are opting to have breast reconstruction contiguous to their mastectomies, because a large number of study results show that doing so is as safe as doing them in separate procedures. In addition, studies have shown that there is no increased risk of the cancer reoccurring in women who opt for reconstruction.
Especially of interest is evidence from a recent study which found that women who chose to have breast reconstruction had a better survival rate than women who did not have the surgery. Tests results are hard to analyze. Perhaps, researchers say, it is because women who opt for reconstructive surgery immediately after breast surgery are healthier physically and emotionally. Perhaps those women go back to their doctors more often, or perhaps they take better care of themselves after surgery.
There are a several different reconstructive procedures which your doctor will discuss with you, so you may make an educated decision on which you and your doctor are in agreement and with which you are comfortable.
Facelift Alternatives for Loose Neck Skin?
If you’re unhappy with the "wattle" of loose skin under your chin, there may be an alternative other than a facelift. There are several ways for plastic surgeons to treat the loose skin under your neck that gets its nickname (wattle) from the turkey. In younger patients, we may be able to use liposuction to remove the fatty deposits which are what creates the wattle effect. If you are middle-aged, and your skin is naturally a bit less elastic, we may be able to effect a change with an incision under your chin, behind your ears. The fatty deposits can be removed through that incision. That, in conjunction with tightening of muscles, may indeed, “cure” your wattle. Researchers who have used these techniques have found moderate to marked improvement in patients. Unfortunately, for patients past middle age who wish to rid themselves of this problem, a complete facelift is most probably necessary. As always, with any procedure, realistic expectations, as explained to you by your doctor, yield the best results.
