Redoing Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction surgery offers women the option to replace a breast that has been lost due to cancer.  But reconstruction techniques, like most medical procedures, have improved through out the years for those who, like me, must have their old reconstruction redone for some reason or another.

A reconstruction redo can be needed at any time, either immediately or years down the road - and for any number of reasons.  The woman may dislike the outcome, or the breasts no longer match because of age, the power of gravity, an implant rupture, or infection. 

Every reconstruction redo is unique.  No two women experience the same issues.  The majority of reconstruction redos come from implant malfunction, such as capsular contracture, or because the implant has ruptured.  Others are done because the other breast has changed over time, and they need some sort of balancing procedure on one side or the other, or both. 

In my case, I'm having reconstruction redone to correct issues I have with lumpy, bumpy, hard breast tissue that is on my left side.  The hard tissue is a result of capsular contracture that has formed around the implant.  I'm also having this breast redone because it is positioned differently from the right one, which has damaged skin from radiation.  I'm hoping this redo will help even them out a bit more.

Every case involves some customization.  Some patients need more skin, some need more volume, some patients need a bigger implant, others a smaller implant.  No two procedures are the identical.

Redos that involve scar tissue from previous surgeries or capsular contracture present some significant challenges.  Radiated tissue presents another set of problems because these patients generally don't have implants.   They usually have some type of flap reconstruction because when the breast is radiated; the skin loses its elasticity, which in many cases results in the need for subsequent surgical repairs.

Keep in mind that you must be realistic about what to expect.  Although reconstruction can give you a relatively natural-looking breast, a reconstructed breast will never look or feel exactly the same as the breast that was removed.  Redoing reconstruction, can correct most defects or issues, but it may involve several procedures performed in multiple stages.  This particular redo will be my 10^th breast surgery.  Provided there are no issues that need to be corrected afterwards, I still will have an 11^th procedure to look forward to when the time comes to have the nipples and areolas done.

Just remember that when it comes to breast reconstruction, it's a lot harder to put it back on than it was to take it off!