Jon Bishop, MD
Look & Feel Your Best
700 West 800 North | Suite 442 | Orem, UT 84057 | 801-802-0120 | jon@jonbishopmd.com
700 West 800 North
Suite 442
Orem, UT 84057
(801) 802-0120
What's New
News:
February Special
Face Lift Special!
Show your face some love this month with $100 off a face-lift!
Check back for March's Special!
Call us for an appointment today (801) 802-0120
Breast Reconstruction
There are many things about Breast Reconstructive Surgery you may not know, Dr. Bishop's office would like you to have as much information as possible when considering your Breast Reconstruction options.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common form of cancer in women. Each year more than 254,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer. With that large number of women battling breast cancer it is surprising to find that in a recent study, very few of these women will opt for breast reconstruction surgery. According to this study less than one-fifth of women who undergo mastectomy choose to have breast reconstructive surgery!
Possible reasons vary from patient to patient as to why or why not they choose to have reconstruction done. An article from Forbes Magazine suggests that cancer survivors may feel selfish about having this surgery. It is important to know that this surgery is not a cosmetic procedure and should be viewed as reconstructive surgery. You should know that operations to restore anatomy and symmetry are considered reconstructive surgery and considered part of the treatment of a disease. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act requires that insurers provide coverage for reconstruction following mastectomy, including surgery to make the opposite side symmetrical. This surgery can be very beneficial and provide many significant psychosocial benefits for the woman going through this process. Women tend to hesitate when putting themselves first. Wanting to feel normal and look normal after battling cancer is not a selfish want or need. Also many women many not have the right information about the process and procedure of breast cancer reconstruction.
What is breast reconstructive surgery you might ask? Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to help rebuild, contour, restore size, shape and the overall appearance of the breast following a mastectomy.
It is important to talk to a board certified plastic surgeon before any decision is made. By having the mastectomy and reconstructive surgeons work together they can plan a treatment that is best for your individual case. An added benefit of having the surgeons work together in this capacity is that multiple sets of eyes are on you during your cancer treatment. This in theory can increase a patient's survival rate. With multiple physicians involved in your care, you are giving them a chance to find any possible problems that may arise.
There a several options when considering a reconstructive procedure and these should be discussed with your surgeon before you undergo any procedure. The most popular method is immediate breast reconstruction using tissue expander devices, with options including, delayed reconstruction, and tissue flap procedures.
Immediate reconstruction is done at the time of the mastectomy. An advantage of this surgery is that the chest tissues are not damaged by radiation therapy or scarring from a previous surgery, which helps keep the breast softer. Also having immediate reconstruction means you have less surgery!
After the general surgeon has removed the breast tissue, the plastic surgeon steps in and can add and implant or a tissue expander. Tissue expanders are placed under the skin and muscle and are filled with saline solution by frequent injections. After the surgery is performed you will follow up with your plastic surgeon for a "fill" which is done in our office usually on a weekly basis. Each week more saline is added to your expander which stretches the skin slowly to the desired size for your body. Once the desired size is achieved we improve softness by adding a little more the expander. After all fills are completed you will go back into surgery and have the expander removed and a permanent prosthesis placed.
Delayed reconstruction is when the rebuilding of the breast starts at a later stage in your recovery process. Factors that contribute to having a delayed vs. an immediate reconstruction typically depend on the plan of care given by with your Dr.'s. Typically in delayed reconstruction the procedure is done in a later stage.
Tissue flap procedures use tissue from your tummy, back, thighs, or buttocks to rebuild the shape of a breast. The most common form of flap surgery is the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap. This procedure is done after treatments are completed.
The final step in the breast reconstruction process is the nipple reconstruction. Many women don’t realize that this is an option. As mentioned before there are many psychosocial benefits to having breast reconstruction and this final step is helpful in getting you to a point where you feel normal. Studies have shown that the reconstruction of the nipple-areola complex has a high correlation with a patient's overall acceptance of body image and satisfaction.
Nipple reconstruction can be done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia. After the new nipple is healed medical tattooing to create the desired coloring of the nipple and areola complex, this is done right in the office by our experienced medical cosmetician. This completes the final step of the reconstruction.
Our mission at Dr. Bishop's office is to Restore the Natural You. We would love to help you through the recovery process to help you feel and look better! For appointments or questions please call our office at (801)802-0120.
Train Accident Victim Keeps Hand, Thanks to Plastic Surgeon
Susan Galicia vividly remembers the day in April of last year when her son, Michael Villafuerte, failed to return to their home in the Elberon section of Long Branch after school.
Read more
New Technique Provides Option for Breast Reconstruction after Radiation
For breast cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy, a new technique consisting of fat injection followed by implant placement may provide a much-needed alternative for breast reconstruction.
Read more
Ear Doctors Performing Face-Lifts? It Happens
After moving from New York to Los Angeles in 2010 to take a job with a financial services firm, Joan, now 59, believed she needed to freshen her look.
Read more
The Risks and Rewards of Plastic Surgery
Imagine being so self-conscious, that even your husband of 10 years has never seen you completely naked. That used to be Sara Hagen.
Read more
Designed for Jon Bishop MD by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons