Breast Reconstruction Gallery Patient 122909006

From Dr. Lampert:

Breast Cancer Reconstruction: This young lady in her early 40s had a delayed left breast reconstruction after breast cancer and mastectomy. She had subsequent chemotherapy and radiation to the left chest wall and axilla after having lymph nodes positive with cancer metastasis. For her staged left breast reconstruction, I performed a flap from her abdomen using microsurgery to reconnect the artery and vein (that supplies the abdominal skin and fat) to an artery and vein in the chest wall. The advantage of flap reconstruction is that it borrows tissue from the abdomen and contours the abdomen similar to a tummy-tuck. At the same time, the flap brings in healthy vascular tissue to perform the breast reconstruction. During a second stage, I shaped both breasts, and lifted each side for symmetry. Then nipple reconstruction, fat grafting and tattoo were performed. I like to harvest fat with low pressure liposuction from areas that the patient desires fat reduction. This particular patient always wanted to have a six pack - so I did abdominal etching - or suction focused between the abs . The abdomen and love handles are great sources for fat graft harvest and help slim the waist at the same time. The fat is then grafted in small aliquots to the breast where volume is needed. I usually wait 3 months between stages in order to allow for the tissues to heal.