Study Shows the Benefits of Reconstructive Breast Augmentation to Cancer Survivors

When breast augmentation is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is a cosmetic procedure to improve one’s figure.  While it is true that a significant number of patients seek this to increase their bust size, the surgery is also a way to reconstruct the breasts of cancer survivors who had mastectomy.

In 2010, approximately 93,000 breast reconstructive surgeries were performed in the country.  Most of the patients were cancer survivors who wanted to regain their normal appearance.

According to the American Cancer Society, female patients who have undergone breast reconstruction via breast implants, tissue-based method, or combination of both procedures, have experienced dramatic improvement in their social and sexual wellbeing after their traumatic experience with cancer and disfiguring surgical treatment.

A recent study, which is conducted by researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and The University of Toronto, examined the wellbeing of post-cancer patients who had DIEP flap breast reconstruction, a procedure in which their own abdominal tissue was used to create new breast mound.

Before and after breast reconstruction, the respondents were required to answer questionnaires that would determine the status of their wellbeing and self-esteem.  According to the findings, majority had experienced significant improvements in terms of their emotional health just three weeks after the reconstructive plastic surgery.

But as with any tissue-based breast reconstruction in which the patients will likely experience muscle weakness in the donor site, most patients had reported weakened abdominal wall three months after surgery.  However, the symptom is usually tolerated well by many.

While muscle weakness is one of the tradeoffs of breast reconstruction via tissue-based technique, plastic surgeons can prevent this by placing surgical mesh or support over the donor site.

Apart from using a person’s own tissue, plastic surgeons also use breast implants, either filled with silicone gel or saline solution.  But in case that there is little tissue left after mastectomy, they will first insert temporary implants that is inflated with saline solution every two weeks; once there is enough room, they remove the tissue expander and replace this with a permanent implant.

The appropriate breast reconstruction technique largely depends on the amount of tissue left—or the lack of it.  And in general, patients who had invasive cancer surgery will likely need tissue-based surgeries.

On the other hand, women who are left with more amounts of glandular tissue and skin after their cancer surgery will often have the opportunity to choose breast implant surgery, which is less invasive and results to less scarring than the tissue-based reconstruction.