What Is Breast Reconstruction?

[x]   Tags: breast reconstruction, tram reconstruction, after mastectomy, after masectomy, cosmetic surgery, plastic surgery, breast health, breasts, womens health, cancer, Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: In the United States, over 40% of patients with early stage breast cancer choose to undergo mastectomies. What happens AFTER their breasts are removed? Each year, nearly 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with breast cancer, and each year 40,000 of them die from the disease. One way that doctors seek to prevent this is by performing mastectomies to remove all of the breast and the nipple. This drastic change in body image can have major psychological implications for women, which leads many to choose to have their breasts reconstructed by a plastic surgeon. Breast reconstruction surgery can take place at the same time as the mastectomy, when a woman is already under anesthesia, or it can occur later, which is sometimes a good option for women who are ALSO undergoing radiation. The most common reconstruction option, breast implants, involves stretching the skin on the chest with a tissue expander, then inserting an implant filled with silicone gel or saline solution. The downside of implants is that they may not last a lifetime. Mastectomy patients may avoid implants altogether in favor of tissue flap reconstruction. This procedure involves using a woman's own skin, fat, and muscle to build a new breast. Sometimes, this tissue is usually taken from the lower abdomen, as in a TRAM flap.In other cases, such as the latissimus dorsi flap, tissue is used from the upper back. These procedures may create a more realistic looking breast with fewer complications, but, it's possible for muscle weakness to occur at the surgery site. Also, smaller women sometimes lack enough tissue to undergo a tissue flap reconstruction. Whatever procedure is used, it can be followed by a nipple and areola reconstruction. This is usually a separate surgery, performed AFTER the breasts heal. During nipple reconstruction, it's even possible to get a tattoo to create the areola. Of course, none of that is necessary for the few women who are able to retain their nipples during mastectomy. If YOU'RE about to undergo a mastectomy, ask your surgeon to refer you to a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation, or visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons at plasticsurgery.org.

[x]   Bio: Dr. Jennifer Walden is one of a relatively small number of female plastic surgeons in New York City, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and fellowship-trained in cosmetic surgery. She is very interested in women's health issues as they relate to plastic surgery and breast health.

Dr. Walden is currently an Attending in Plastic Surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat and Lenox Hill Hospitals, and has the academic appointment of Clinical Instructor of Surgery (Plastic Surgery) at New York University Langone Medical Center. She is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. She currently serves as Program Director of the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital's Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship, one of the foremost training programs of cosmetic surgery in the nation.

A regular in the media, Dr. Walden's appeared on national news outlets such as Fox News Channel and E! TV's Dr. 90210, ABC's 20/20 and CBS's The Early Show. Her comments have also appeared in Vogue, Cosmopolitan and The New York Sun.

A native Texan, Dr. Walden received her undergraduate education at the University of Texas at Austin, graduating with Honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She then went on to receive her Medical Doctorate with Highest Honors, graduating as the Salutatorian at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Visit her website: http://www.drjenniferwalden.com