If you’ve had a mastectomy for breast cancer, you’ll need breast reconstruction surgery. The purpose of this surgery is to restore one or both breasts to normal appearance and shape.
The reconstruction might involve many processes in stages or can be done at the time of mastectomy. Women get this surgery after recovering from breast cancer to gain the confidence to live.
Getting Breast Reconstruction In Lahore
Aesthetic clinic by Dr. Hammad is the best stop to get your breast reconstruction in Lahore, Pakistan. With eight years of hands-on experience, Dr. Hammad will give you the best results in town.
The staff will review your condition first and then start the treatment with your consent. Our clinic is equipped with high-quality services and technology and will deliver you what you’re looking for.
What Is The Cost Of Breast Reconstruction In Lahore?
The cost of reconstruction or implant can vary for different patients as their conditions are different. Depending upon the type of implant used, the cost for an implant can vary from 1 Lac PKR to 2.5 Lac. The final price will get decided after consulting your respective surgeon.
Why Choose Dr. Hammad Saleem?
Whatever cosmetic procedure or treatment you want, the most important step is to choose the right surgeon. It will greatly affect your end results.
During his eight years of practice, he has done several surgeries, and all the patients are happy with the results.
Dr. Hammad knows that you’ve already gone through so much, so he’ll offer the best price for your surgery. Book a consultation or visit the clinic to get the appearance of your body enhanced!
Do I Need A Breast Reconstruction?
It’s not easy to live without a normal breast, and the thought of such a life can mentally disturb you. However, every woman has a right to live a complete life with a normal appearance.
However, it’s an individual’s decision to get surgery, and it’s not an easy one. If you don’t want to undergo the pain, you can choose to wear external pads or bras.
A reconstruction surgery now yields good results than before. It’s possible to have a breast reconstruction using either breast implants or body’s own tissue.
What Options Are Available?
There are various options available for this surgery, your surgeon will guide you on which one is for you. This surgery aims to shape the breast in a way it looks natural and matches the breast on the other side.
But, even after perfect results, there will be a difference among the natural breast and the reconstructed one. But a surgery on the other side as well can reduce the difference.
Different Breast Reconstruction Options In Lahore
There are different reconstruction options available depending upon your breast’s condition. You’ll discuss your needs, wants, and medical history with the doctor before beginning.
Implants
This treatment is about stretching the skin using a tissue expander. It goes inside your body and inserts a silicone gel or saline implant weeks later.
The expander gets filled to some level by saline, usually once a week during sessions. You may experience some pain, but the results will make that pain worth it.
Tissue Flap Process
The surgeon will use tissue either from your abdomen or back to create a mound to reconstruct the breast. Sometimes they keep the tissue being moved attached to its blood supply.
In this way, the flap has a better chance of surviving because the blood supply is in place. The shape and feel of a breast made from your own tissue will look closer to a natural one.
Nipple Reconstruction
Usually, the nipple gets removed during the mastectomy to lessen cancer returning risk. However, nipple reconstruction can be an option here. It’s an outpatient process performed with local anesthesia.
Your surgeon might make a nipple out of tissue taken from the back or abdominal flap. In some rare cases, the nipple from the original breast gets re-attached.
What Happens After The Treatment?
Like all other surgeries, breast reconstruction leaves scars on your body, that will fade after some time.
Months after the surgery, the breast will look normal as it used to before breast cancer. By wearing your standard bra, you’ll feel the same old comfort and enjoy the old appearance.
This surgery is not a perfect substitute for the breast, but it’s better to have a breast than not having it at all.
How Long Does The Surgery Take?
The preparation time before the surgery may take two hours, including anesthesia. The reconstruction process might take 1 to 6 hours, depending upon the criticality of surgery.
After the surgery is done, you’ll have to spend 2 hours in recovery before getting shifted to a room.
How To Take Care Of Yourself After Breast Reconstruction?
After you go home, it’s normal to experience some soreness, swelling, and bruising for 2 to 3 weeks. You will have to apply medications to the surgery area and change bandages by yourself.
Your doctor will guide you about how to shower, bathe and take care of the wound. It takes only 6 to 8 weeks for a patient to return to its regular activities in most cases.
But you’ll have to wait for several weeks to do any rigorous activity. The surgery might leave areas of numbness near or around the surgery site. The scars of the reconstruction will fade over time.
What Are The Side Effects Of Breast Reconstruction?
Like all other surgeries, breast reconstruction can have its own side effects, these are:
Pain and discomfort
You can get a pain relief medication upon your doctor’s advice to avoid discomfort after the surgery. However, some women may have more pain than others, and it depends on your body’s response to pain.
Itching
You’ll feel the urge to itch when the wound starts healing, but you have to avoid it no matter what. To calm this itching, your doctor will recommend an ointment.
Infection at the site
Infection can be a risk in any surgery, and an antibiotic will help you to get rid of this infection.
Fluid accumulation under the wound
The risk of fluid building up under the wound is there even the drainage tubes got removed. A small amount of fluid will go away, but a larger one will require the surgeon to use a syringe and remove it.
Tingling or numbness
As the nerves get affected, you may get tingling or numbness up to 12 months after the surgery.
When Is The Best Time To Get Breast Reconstruction Surgery?
There isn’t a single standard time for every woman to get breast reconstruction. The timing can depend on what you want to do, your medical condition, and your cancer treatment.
It’s possible to get it done during the operation to remove the breast. Then, you can have it months or years after the mastectomy as per your choice.
Yet, if chemotherapy gets started, you’ll have to put reconstruction after it gets finished. Your doctor can guide you about the best time to get reconstruction.
How Painful Is Breast Reconstruction Surgery?
It’s normal to have some pain after every surgery. If your doctor is good enough, he’ll ensure to make you comfortable and the pain tolerable for you. The pain medication will help you to get through the hard times.
But, the emotional pain can be hard to tolerate because it’s difficult for women to look at their new appearance.
Does It Cause Cancer Again?
After going through the pain of breast cancer, the patients become more sensitive to this issue. Their concern is not to get in that pain again, they don’t want anything that causes breast cancer for the second time.
Rest assured, the reconstruction process will not cause cancer to come back again. So there’s no risk in this surgery, and it won’t even cause any problem in the ongoing cancer treatment.