Search Results for: implant

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I wanted to know if you accept patients that are considering implant removal and reconstruction (with no history of mastectomy). If so, I’d like an idea of costs involved. Thank you!

Answer: Thank you for your question. Yes we do surgery to reconstruct and re shape the breasts after implants are removed. The cost is determined by what procedure is necessary to help restore the breast shape.

If your implants were put in for cosmetic reasons then the surgery to restore the breasts is usually cosmetic as well. If you would like to come for a consultation I could give you more specific details regarding the fees.

Alternatively if you can not come for a consult I could get more information from you about your situation. A call from.my staff for more details may be needed. Just let me know if either option is good for you.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I had bilateral mastectomies and wanted to do the natural breast procedure but the surgeon wouldn’t even discuss it. Then he totally botched the reconstruction. I look deformed. I still avoid the mirror. A redo was set but was canceled day of surgery because b/p and bipod star were elevated. I want it redone. I would like to have the natural breasts. I have plenty of abdominal tissue. I am diabetic.

Answer: I’m sorry you have had so much trouble with your reconstruction.

Fortunately, previous attempts at implant reconstruction rarely impact our ability to successfully perform a reconstruction with your own tissue. Diabetes increases your risk of some complications, most notably wound healing problems and infections, but it rarely keeps us from doing the reconstruction at all.

If you wish, we can have one of our staff call you to discuss your situation further.

Thanks for your question, and look forward to meeting with you.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: I need a redo of reconstructed breast. It is very high on my chest and it is showing in my clothing.

Answer: Thank you for your question. Sorry you are having problems with your breast reconstruction. If you do not want your surgeon who performed your reconstruction to revise your results then I would be willing to let you know what possible options you have.

We specialize in breast reconstruction and after getting all the details of your surgery I can let you know what my opinion is. My staff will need to contact you for all the details but until then can you tell me if you had implant reconstruction or another type? Also did you require radiation?

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: Should the same physician do the mastectomy as does the reconstruction? Your thoughts?? I am undergoing chemo, will have bilateral mastectomy, radiation then reconstruction?

Answer: Generally speaking, the mastectomy should be done by a general surgeon, and the reconstruction should be done by a plastic surgeon. Often, the mastectomy and stage I of the reconstruction can be done at the same time, but not always. It is done this way for several reasons:

1) It would be difficult for one surgeon to stay up-to-date and proficient at both breast cancer management and breast reconstruction

2) There may be subtle unwanted bias when doing the mastectomy (i.e., extent of tissue removal) if the surgeon knows he also has to do the reconstruction

3) It is more fatiguing for one surgeon to do both procedures, and this could have undesirable consequences.

If you know that you are going to have radiation, then most likely the plastic surgeon will either do nothing, or place a tissue expander at the time of surgery. If you are going to attempt permanent implant reconstruction, the plastic surgeon may try to place the permanent implant before the initiation of radiation, or may leave the inflated tissue expander in place until after you have healed from radiation (usually about 6 months).

If you are planning to have natural tissue reconstruction, the expanders can be removed and flap transfers done after healing from radiation. Natural tissue reconstruction is usually not done at the same time as the reconstruction if radiation is planned, as the radiation can severely damage the transferred tissue.

Hope this helps, please let us know if we can answer any more questions.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question:  Just diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma in Situ. 76-year-old fairly fit, in good health. Interested in mastectomy and reconstruction. Have had 4 mid-line abdominal surgeries. Suggestions on which reconstruction?

Answer: If you have no strong preferences for using your own tissue, you may be a candidate for implant reconstruction, as appears there a good chance you will not need radiation. Implants have the advantage of requiring no major operations (compared to flap surgery), and are well-tolerated by many people. Every major city has plastic surgeons who are experienced in implant reconstruction.

However, many people simply would rather use their own tissue. Fortunately, midline surgeries do not usually impact our ability to use any otherwise available abdominal tissue. We can tell with virtual certainty if adequate vessels are available with an MRI angiogram, if there is any question. If your abdominal tissue ended up not being adequate, you may have extra tissue in your buttocks which we could use.

We would be happy to call and discuss your situation in more detail, if you wish.

Thanks for your question!

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question:  I’m wanting to know if there are any new options. I’ve had both breasts removed in 2013. Had another surgery to put in expanders. Got cellulitis. Had another surgery to remove infection.  There was none there. Spent a week in the hospital. Came home on a IV drip. Had expanders removed. Left me badly scarred on left side.

Doctor says he can give me something to put in a bra, but it would look good. My stomach has bad stretch marks so that skin is no good. I have plenty of fat. Just wondering if there’s anything new out there. So tired of living like this.

Answer: Thank you for your question. I am sorry you had such a difficult time with your expanders. Usually when someone has to have them removed due to infection we recommend using their own tissue instead of implants. The skin and fatty tissue from different areas of the body can be used to reconstruct a natural breast form.

Even though you have stretch marks it does not mean that the extra skin and fatty tissue cannot be used for breast reconstruction. If you don’t have enough tissue in the tummy area then perhaps another area of the body can be used.

If you would like more information let us know. I can have our staff contact you for specifics about your situation. Thanks for your question.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question:  My doctor wants to do a DIEP FLAP but my insurance doesn’t advise it. I want my breast to look normal so could you help me? 

Answer: Your insurance company should not be in the business of recommending or not recommending medical care, although they may agree to pay or refuse to pay for certain procedures. By law, if you have had breast cancer, they must generally cover the cost of the reconstruction of your choice, whether it’s DIEP, implants, or whatever.

A lot of factors go into determining how natural your breast reconstruction can look, with perhaps the most important factor being the type of mastectomy performed. Generally speaking, nipple-sparing mastectomies have the potential to look the very best, followed by skin-sparing mastectomies.

Even non-skin-sparing mastectomies can sometimes be reconstructed with a very natural appearance, however, it just depends on a lot of things such as whether you are radiated, the quality of your scars, overall symmetry, etc.

If you would like to give us more specifics on your situation we would be happy to help you all we can, and thank you for your question!

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question:  I had a double lumpectomy on my right breast 16 years ago. I also had chemo and radiation. I never had reconstruction but was willing to live with it. But over the years I think the radiation has made my breast smaller and both breasts droop now.

Are there any surgeries being performed using stomach fat and how complicated for a 66 year old would this be? I am very healthy and exercise and workout a lot.

Answer: We routinely do reconstructive surgery on patients your age and older with good results (we did a bilateral DIEP reconstruction on a 74 year old lady a few weeks ago). Your overall medical condition is much more important than your chronological age.

You are correct to think that using your own tissue is usually preferable if you have had radiation, as the success rate in this situation is much higher using your own tissue than trying to use implants. The surgery is big, but we do it routinely, and it may well be your best option.

We would be happy to have our nurse Chris or P.A. Kim call you to discuss your situation further, and I will be happy to speak with you, if you wish. Thanks for your inquiry!

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!

This week, James E. Craigie, MD, of The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction answers your question.

Question: Husband is retired Navy so we have Tricare. I’ve already had unilateral reconstruction with silicone implant. However, it is about 1/2 the size of real breast and scar tissue is drawing it up. I don’t want to go back to my surgeon since he left it that way. His option was to chop the real breast down to match the small implant. I said “No” and never heard from him again. No final tattoo was offered either.

My question is would I still qualify for further reconstruction? I’d be interested in having the implant removed and the DEIP procedure. Also, I have plenty of fat to offer but are there restrictions on how fat is too fat?

Answer: Thank you for your question. I’m sorry things did not work out the way you wanted with your implant. It is possible to have your implant removed and replace it with your own fatty tissue. The DIEP may be a good option for you especially since you feel like you have extra fatty tissue in your tummy area. Also if your implant does not match your other breast then your own tissue would likely be a more natural match.

The restrictions have more to do with your overall health and your weight. If someone is too overweight then we would discuss losing weight before surgery to lower the risk of complications. In general if your weight is equal to or over 200lbs then we need to specifically evaluate your situation in detail. I would be glad to have our staff contact you for that information or set up a time that we could talk over the phone. If you would like to come for a consult that would be possible too. Just let us know if you would like more information.

Have a question about breast reconstruction or post-surgical you’d like answered from our surgical team? Just ask!