“The majority of women who have surgery as a treatment for breast cancer do move forward with breast reconstruction, and here at Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center we can conveniently offer state-of-the-art services close to home,” says Matthew Lynch, MD, a board certified plastic surgeon on the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “When discussing their options, we help these patients understand that there have been advancements in recent years that have improved the overall reconstructive results.”
Reconstructive breast surgery today is less invasive, allows for quicker healing, and produces a safer and more realistic result, and the increase in nipple-sparing mastectomy has made for a more natural result.
A woman’s approach to reconstructive surgery is an individualized one, and at Princeton Medical Center the entire treatment team works together to develop a personalized plan. “What is right for one woman may not be right for another,” says Evan Katzel, MD, a board certified plastic surgeon on the Medical Staff of Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “Sitting down and discussing the options is the first step. We consider her physical health, her goals, and together come up with the right procedure for her.”
Several Options are Available
In some instances, reconstructive surgery can take place in conjunction with the mastectomy. In other cases, for example when radiation may interfere with the procedure, reconstruction can take place at a later time. In both instances, women can consider implants or a flap procedure using tissue, most often from the abdomen but also from the thigh or back, to create a new breast.
“At Princeton Medical Center we can offer both implant-based reconstruction and flap reconstruction, but not every woman is a candidate for both,” says Dr. Katzel. “Several factors go into making the right decision, including a woman having enough available tissue to create a new breast.”
For some women recovery time may be a consideration.
“Recovery times really depend on the procedure,” adds Dr. Lynch. “The healing time for implants is faster — usually within about four weeks. When we do a flap procedure, depending on where the tissue is taken from, recovery can be around six weeks.”
To find a surgeon affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Health, call 1.888.742.7496, or visit princetonhcs.org.