Oncoplastic Surgery St. Louis – Breast Reconstruction Technique Missouri

If you are scheduled for a lumpectomy or excision of a mass from your breast, then you are a candidate for this procedure. Since most lumpectomy surgeries require post – operative radiation, the result can be a deformed breast with significant asymmetry compared to the other side. These are very difficult to correct after radiation and more complicated. Healthy women who have large breasts or droopy (ptotic) breasts are excellent candidates for this procedure. Smoking increases the risk of complications.

Dr. Cabbabe will ask that you refrain from taking any aspirin, plavix, Coumadin or any other type of blood thinner. If you are taking chemotherapy, this may need to be finished or held prior to surgery.

Antibiotics are given before the procedure and drains are sometimes used if lymph nodes are removed. If this procedure is done by itself, most patients are able to go home the same day. If you are having an axillary dissection, you may stay overnight. Patients are able to shower the next day and go home in a bra. Early range of motion is done with the arms. Patients will generally follow-up within 1 week and then approximately 3-4 weeks later and then in several months. There may be some numbness on the breast which improves with time.

Recovery is approximately 1-2 weeks depending on the procedure performed on the breast (reduction versus lift) and the amount of fat removed. Most women who have this procedure done will be up and about the next day, moving around although they may need pain medication occasionally.

Dr. Cabbabe strives to make the procedure as easy and comfortable as possible for his patients. Before surgery, patients may receive anti-inflammatory pain medications that do not cause bleeding. At the time of surgery, local anesthesia numbing medicine is used that is long – lasting into the breast. After surgery, early range of motion is begun and pain medications are given.

Bleeding may occur after surgery and necessitate a return to the OR. Most women have asymmetry before surgery and asymmetry may be present after surgery. Patients still receive radiation and this affects the cosmetic outcome. There may be areas of skin that are slow to heal, including the nipple – areola complex. Scars may become thick and irritated and require revision surgery. Rare complications such as blood clots, fat embolism, injury to surrounding structures, pulmonary embolus and death may occur. Revisions may be needed.