Advances in Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among women. Advances in technology and medical treatments have increased the success rate of treating breast cancer. However, the treatment often requires surgery, and one of the most important concerns for women is breast reconstruction. Dr. Effie Politis of Politis Plastic Surgery in Tampa, Florida, discusses the latest advances in breast reconstruction.

Dr. Politis talks about two types of breast reconstruction that she offers to her patients: direct to implant reconstruction and prepectoral reconstruction. In direct to implant reconstruction, the breast implant is placed over the chest muscle instead of under it. This approach is beneficial as placing the implant under the muscle causes several deformities, pain, animation deformities over time, and implant displacement. The muscle pushes the implant down and out, which results in an unnatural appearance of the breast. By placing the implant over the chest muscle, Dr. Politis can avoid these issues and provide her patients with a more natural-looking breast.

Prepectoral reconstruction is another breast reconstruction technique that Dr. Politis offers. In this approach, the implant is placed over the pectoral muscle, which makes the recovery process easier for patients. In prepectoral reconstruction, the nipple sparing technique is also used in the majority of cases. Dr. Politis found that keeping the nipple-areolar complex is just as safe and oncologically safe as removing it. Additionally, unless the position of the nipple-areolar complex does not allow it, or the patient has extremely large breasts, Dr. Politis can salvage it and provide her patients with the best possible outcome.

Breast reconstruction surgery can be emotionally and physically taxing for patients. Patients have to go through multiple surgeries, which can take a toll on their mental health. By using these techniques, Dr. Politis provides her patients with a more comfortable and natural-looking breast without compromising their physical or mental well-being. These techniques not only provide patients with better outcomes but also help them to have a faster and smoother recovery process.

Breast reconstruction surgery is a vital aspect of breast cancer treatment, and with advances in technology and medical treatments, patients have more options to choose from. Dr. Politis’ approach to breast reconstruction provides her patients with a more natural-looking breast that is safe and oncologically sound. The prepectoral reconstruction technique allows for a more comfortable recovery process, which is important for patients’ mental well-being. The use of nipple-sparing techniques in most cases ensures that patients retain the natural appearance of their breasts.

In conclusion, breast reconstruction is a critical component of breast cancer treatment. Dr. Politis’ approach to breast reconstruction provides her patients with the best possible outcome. The direct to implant and prepectoral reconstruction techniques are beneficial as they provide patients with a more natural-looking breast while ensuring an easier and more comfortable recovery process. The use of nipple-sparing techniques in most cases also ensures that patients retain the natural appearance of their breasts. These advances in breast reconstruction techniques offer a ray of hope for women undergoing breast cancer treatment and help them to regain their confidence and quality of life.

TRANSCRIPTION:

Hi, my name is Dr. Effie Politis with Politis Plastic Surgery.

One of the advances in breast reconstruction which I offer and I think are well suited

to my patient population here in Tampa is what’s called direct to implant reconstruction

and prepectoral reconstruction.

So we have found that placing the breast tissue is not under the muscle, it’s over the muscle.

So placing the device or the implant under the muscle is not necessary anymore.

It causes some deformities, it causes pain, animation deformities over time, it also causes

implant displacement because there’s no longer any breast tissue camouflaging the implant.

All you see is the muscle kind of pushing the implant down and out.

So in the right candidates, and I would say the majority of ours because these breast

cancers are caught a little bit earlier, they’re screened appropriately.

We offer them pre-pectral, which again ensures an easier recovery, so prepectoral reconstruction

and most of them are nipple sparing again in the right candidates.

We found that keeping that nipple areolar complex is just as safe, oncologically safe.

And again, unless it’s at a position that does not allow or unless they have extremely

large breasts, we are able to salvage that and give them really the best possible outcome

because they have their whole skin envelope, their nipple areolar complex, and we just

need to make sure it’s positioned over the apex of the breast mount.

References:

• “What You Should Know About Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction.” 6 Jan. 2017, https://www.medstarhealth.org/blog/pre-pectoral-breast-reconstruction.
• “Should I Get Breast Reconstruction Surgery?.” 19 Sep. 2022, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/reconstruction-surgery/should-i-get-breast-reconstruction-surgery.html.
• “Types of Breast Reconstruction – Breastcancer.org.” 14 Feb. 2023, https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/surgery/breast-reconstruction/types.\
• “Breast Reconstruction | American Society of Plastic Surgeons.” https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction.