Indiana Plastic Surgery Blog

Breast reconstruction can be performed immediately after mastectomy or as a delayed procedure.  When the circumstances permit, immediate breast reconstruction has several advantages over delayed reconstruction.

1. There’s one less surgical procedure requiring anesthesia.
2. The tissue is supple, allowing for a potentially better cosmetic result.
3. Because the patient goes to sleep with a breast and subsequently wakes up with one (or the beginning of one) present, psychological trauma may be reduced.
4. One recovery period allows the patient to heal from two procedures (mastectomy and reconstruction).

Delayed reconstruction is sometimes necessary.  In some cases, patients know they will need postoperative radiation.  In other cases, the patient is indecisive about breast reconstruction and decides to take time to consider it.

When possible, immediate breast reconstruction is preferred for the reasons I have mentioned above.

Patients at our Indiana office often ask about breast feeding and breast implants – whether it is possible, and whether it is safe for their child.

Breast feeding is usually not disrupted by the presence of a breast implant, but in some cases (usually when the periareolar incision is used) it is indeed disrupted.  Choosing a surgical incision that avoids manipulation of the nipple can decrease this risk.  If breast feeding is likely in your future, you may want to investigate incision techniques such as the inframmary fold incision, transaxillary incision, or transumbilical breast augmentation method.

Although breast feeding is not necessarily compromised by sub-glandular (above the muscle) placement, some surgeons maintain that submuscular breast implant placement reduces the risk as well.

If you’re concerned about infant safety, you may want to reference a study published in the June 1998 issue of Plastic and Reconstructive surgery.  The study found no measurable risks to the infant, and found that women with silicone breast implants, and women without them, show comparable levels of silicone (silicon) in their breast milk.  It is not known what effect could occur if a small amount of silicone were to pass through to the infant.

Feel free to speak with Dr. Robinson or your OB/GYN if you still have questions and concerns about this topic.  Whether you plan to become pregnant or not, it is best to understand all of the possible breast augmentation risks before proceeding with surgery.