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Breast Reconstruction in New Jersey

Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction can begin when the mastectomy or other surgery is performed or may be delayed until a later date. Some patients need breast reconstruction to be postponed until all cancer treatments are complete.

Breast construction usually involves implants or flap reconstruction. Implant reconstruction uses silicone or saline breast implants to create new breasts. The flap procedure uses your tissue from another body area to create a new breast.

Some of the factors that your surgeon will consider when choosing a breast reconstruction option include the type of mastectomy you had, cancer treatments, and your body type.

What is breast reconstruction surgery?

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure aimed at restoring the shape and appearance of a breast, typically performed on women who have undergone breast cancer treatment. This transformative process involves utilizing autologous tissue, prosthetic implants, or a combination of both techniques to reconstruct a breast that closely resembles a natural breast.

The primary objective of breast reconstruction is to help individuals regain a sense of wholeness and improve their overall body image after the challenges of breast cancer surgery. By utilizing advanced surgical techniques, breast reconstruction offers a pathway towards restoring a symmetrical and natural-looking breast contour.

SMITA R. RAMANADHAM, M.D. – Female Plastic Surgeon
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American Board of Plastic
The Aesthetic Society

Smita R. Ramanadham, M.D.– Female Plastic Surgeon

Dr. Smita Ramanadham, a native of New Jersey, possesses an understanding of the distinct aspirations of both women and men in the local area. Having accomplished an impressive academic journey at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, MA, she now rejoices in returning to her home state.

 Dr. Ramanadham attained her plastic and reconstructive surgery training at the renowned University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX, a program that holds the top national ranking in plastic surgery according to Doximity. During her training, she had the privilege of learning directly from the world’s foremost experts.

 She actively contributes as a valued member of The Aesthetic Society, a highly esteemed organization that represents the most skilled cohort of aesthetic plastic surgeons. Moreover, she serves as an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), where she seizes the opportunity to advance the field of plastic surgery on a broader scale. Within the ASPS, she serves on various national committees, including Women Plastic Surgeons, Young Plastic Surgeons Steering Committee, Curriculum Committee, Social Media Subcommittee, Wellness Task Force, and Coding and Payment Policy Committee.

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Breast Reconstruction Procedure

Steps for the breast reconstruction procedure usually include:

Anesthesia

Your surgeon will administer general anesthesia for your comfort during the procedure. Dr. Smita will use IV sedation or general anesthesia, depending on what is best for you.

Flap Technique

Mastectomy or radiation therapy may not leave enough tissue on your chest wall to cover and support breast implants. In this situation, your surgeon will use the flap method or tissue expansion.

The TRAM flap technique uses donor skin, fat, and muscle from your lower abdomen to rebuild the breast. The flap may be left attached to the blood supply from the donor area or could be connected through the chest wall.

Or, your surgeon may use the DIEP flap method, which doesn’t use abdominal muscle but transfers only fat and skin to your chest from the abdomen. If you don’t have enough tissue in your lower abdomen, Dr. Smita may take tissue from your thighs or buttocks.

Tissue Expansion

Breast implant reconstruction may be a good choice for patients who don’t need breast radiation and avoid using a donor site. Reconstruction with tissue expansion may allow you to recover easier than with flap procedures, but the reconstruction may take longer.

Tissue expansion usually requires you to visit the surgeon several times over one or two months after Dr. Smita places the expander. The expander slowly fills the device with a solution through a valve to expand the skin.

Another surgery is required to replace the expander with a permanent breast implant.

Placement Of Breast Implant

A breast implant can be used in addition or as an alternative to the flap method. Your surgeon may also use a breast implant as a placeholder for other cancer treatments until your body is ready for the flap technique.

Dr. Smita will help you choose the best method for your situation. For example, breast reconstruction with only a breast implant usually requires the use of a tissue expander. But a direct implant breast reconstruction method may work for some women having mastectomy depending on the tumor type and breast shape.

Reconstruction Of Nipple And Areola

For patients who aren’t candidates for mastectomy that spares the nipple, breast reconstruction is finished with various methods that rebuild the nipple and areola.

Popular techniques include folding skin the create a nipple, which is then tattooed for a realistic appearance. In addition, 3-D nipple-areolar tattooing may be used by itself to create the look of a nipple with a projection illusion.

Breast reconstruction may be enhanced with revision procedures that enhance symmetry by liposuction and fat grafting to improve donor site appearance.


Dr. Smita R. Ramanadham is a double board-certified plastic surgeon with a high degree of skill and experience in breast reconstruction surgery. 


She will perform your procedure with compassion and care to enhance your appearance and self-confidence. Dr. Smita also performs many other facial and body procedures in the New Jersey area.

Breast Reconstruction Benefits

Whether to have breast reconstruction is a personal decision, and the benefits vary from one person to another. However, some of the most common advantages of breast reconstruction are:

  • Restores balance and proportions: After mastectomy, your clothing may not look or feel the same. It affects your sense of balance, so breast reconstruction can return your physical proportions to how they were before surgery.
  • Enhances confidence and self-esteem: The fact that you’re alive after a significant health problem is more important than anything. But losing the breasts can affect a woman’s self-confidence and her sense of femininity. Having breast reconstruction can offer a tremendous boost of self-confidence.
  • Return to normalcy: If you have survived a battle with cancer, your life has probably focused on beating the disease for months or years. Restoring your breasts to how they looked before can return you to a sense of normalcy.

Ideal Candidates For Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is a highly personalized procedure. You should have this surgery because you want it for yourself and not to please someone else.

If the following apply, you could be an ideal candidate for this procedure:

  • You are coping well with your diagnosis and treatment, so you enter the breast reconstruction procedure with a positive mindset.
  • You don’t have other medical problems that can delay healing.
  • You have realistic goals to restore your body and breast image.

As you are weighing breast reconstruction, you should remember:

  • The reconstructed breast will not have the same feel or sensation as the original breast.
  • You will always have visible incision lines on your breast, either from mastectomy or reconstruction.
  • Some surgical methods leave scars at the donor site, usually on the abdomen, buttocks, or back.

Surgery Preparation For Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Smita will give you instructions a few weeks before your surgery to ensure the procedure goes as well as possible. If you smoke, she will provide you with the resources and tools you need to quit; smoking interferes with the healing process, so you need to not smoke for several weeks before and after surgery.

She also will tell you what you should eat and drink before surgery to improve healing. Dr. Smita also will advise you on any medications, vitamins, or supplements you shouldn’t take before surgery.

You’ll need a friend or family member to take you home after surgery, and it’s recommended to have them stay with you overnight.

Breast Reconstruction Risks And Complications

Most breast reconstruction surgeries go well, but some patients may have issues with excessive bleeding, infection, and poor incision healing. Also, remember:

  • Flap surgery has a risk of a partial or total loss of the flap and sensation at the reconstruction and donor site.
  • Breast implants carry a risk of excessive breast firmness, implant rupture, and capsular contracture (hardening of scar tissue around the implant that distorts the breast shape).
  • You risk developing a rare cancer of the immune system that is generally associated with textured breast implants.
  • Breast implants increase the risk of breast implant illness, which may include ‘brain fog,’ fatigue, rash, and joint pain.
  • If you have a breast implant, note that they usually last between 10 and 20 years, so you may eventually need revision surgery.

If you feel like something isn’t right with your breast implant or flap during your recovery, call Dr. Smita right away. Most problems can be resolved, but the sooner she knows, the better.

Breast Reconstruction Recovery

Liposuction is exceptionally safe, but any surgery has risks and potential complications. Some of the most common are:

  • Irregularities with results: You could have bumpy, wavy, or irregular contours if the fat was removed unevenly, or you have poor skin elasticity. If any of these happen, you may need corrective surgery. In addition, it’s essential to wear your compression garment for several weeks to ensure your skin adheres to your new contours.
  • Accumulation of fluid: Seromas may develop under the skin after surgery, and they may need to be drained.
  • Numbness: You may have temporary numbness in the treated area, but this usually resolves in a few weeks.
  • Infection: In rare cases, you could have an infection in one or more of your incisions.
  • Internal puncture: The cannula may be inserted too far into the body and puncture an internal organ. This is a medical emergency that must be treated right away.
  • Fat embolism: A piece of loosened fat could break off and enter a blood vessel. In that case, it could travel to the brain or lungs. This is also a medical emergency.
  • Lidocaine toxicity: Lidocaine is an anesthetic used in tumescent liposuction to reduce pain. It’s safe for most people, but toxicity in rare cases can cause heart and nervous system problems.

The chance of complications rises when liposuction is done in several areas. Talk to Dr. Smita if you have any concerns about your liposuction procedure.

Complementary Procedures

Patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery may be interested in other procedures, as well. Having more than one procedure at a time is more cost-effective and allows you to complete all of your recoveries at one time.

Some popular procedures patients have with breast reconstruction include a mommy makeover, liposuction, tummy tuck, and after weigt loss surgery (skin removal).

Dr. Smita will do a medical evaluation before scheduling your breast reconstruction procedure to discuss other cosmetic procedures.

Breast Reconstruction FAQ

Common breast reconstruction questions include:

What Does Breast Reconstruction Involve?

Breast reconstruction is usually implant-based or flap-based. Implant reconstruction uses saline or silicone breast implants to form a new breast.

The flap technique uses your tissue from another body area to make a new breast.

Is This A Major Surgery?

Yes, breast reconstruction is major surgery. You will probably spend several days at the hospital after flap or implant reconstruction. Remember, you may need more than one surgery to rebuild the breast, and flap surgery requires a longer recovery than breast implants.

How Can Breast Reconstruction Go Wrong?

The most common risks associated with this procedure are bleeding, infection, poor incision healing, and anesthesia problems. Also, if you have skin flap surgery, there is a risk the flap may not survive, and revision surgery may be needed.

How Painful Is Breast Reconstruction?

After surgery, you will be tired and weak and may have mild or moderate pain for two or three weeks. You also may feel a pulling sensation in your breast. But you will feel better day every day, and Dr. Smita will prescribe pain medication if you need it.

Will My Insurance Cover Breast Reconstruction?

Yes. The 1998 Federal Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act requires medical insurance policies in the US to cover all phases of breast reconstruction.

How Does The Breast Feel After Reconstruction?

The rebuilt breast will feel natural after you recover, but you may lose some sensation when it is touched.

Can I Keep My Nipples After Mastectomy?

In many mastectomies, the nipple is removed with the breast, but some women may have surgery that spares the nipple. Fortunately, there are several options to rebuild the nipple during breast reconstruction, including 3-D tattooing.

What Happens If I Lose Weight After Breast Reconstruction?

Losing a few pounds after your reconstruction won’t affect your new breast. You would need to lose a lot of weight to have any effect on the new breast.

Will My Implant Drop After Reconstruction?

Yes. Breast implants usually drop a few days after surgery and settle into their final position after two or three months.

Will The Implant Feel Better Than The Tissue Expander?

After Dr. Smita places the breast implant, you’ll feel more comfortable than you did with the tissue expander. In addition, the feeling of tightness will fade as your breast implant adjusts and settles in over a few weeks.

What Is The Most Common Type Of Breast Reconstruction?

Most women who have mastectomies have breast reconstruction with silicone or saline implants. If you don’t want or can’t have implants, Dr. Smita will use the skin flap to rebuild your breast.

How Long Do I Need To Have A Tissue Expander?

When using breast implants for breast reconstruction, Dr. Smita will first place a tissue expander at the surgical site. You need to have the tissue expander in place for at least two months before having a breast implant.

Why Do Some Breast Reconstructions Fail?

The most common problems with breast reconstruction are capsular contracture that causes implant deformity or pain. Other patients have severe infections or are unhappy with how the breast looks.

Breast reconstruction is an important procedure that can help you regain a feeling of confidence and well-being after a severe illness. Talk to Dr. Smita today to decide if you want to explore breast reconstruction surgery.

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Feeling a mix of emotions, including anticipation for the transformative outcome or preoperative concerns, is completely normal. It is essential to openly discuss these feelings with Dr. Smita, as they can provide guidance and support throughout the process.

Do not hesitate to express any anxieties or uncertainties you may have, as effective communication is key in ensuring a positive surgical experience.

References

Breast Reconstruction Preparation. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/preparation

Breast Reconstruction Recovery. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/recovery

Breast Reconstruction Candidates. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/candidates

Preparing For Breast Reconstruction Surgery. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/reconstruction-surgery/preparing-for-breast-reconstruction-surgery.html

Breast Reconstruction Benefits. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/breast-reconstruction-surgery-options-benefits-and-barriers

Breast Reconstruction Overview. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction

Breast Reconstruction Safety. (n.d.). Accessed at

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reconstruction/safety

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