Reconstructive Surgery

Breast Reconstruction

Also known as reconstructive mammaplasty or postmastectomy surgery. Breast reconstruction Revision includes a variety of procedures performed to restore the form and shape of the breast, following mastectomy or lumpectomy surgery. Factors such as individual anatomy, aesthetic goals and the need for any postsurgical chemotherapy or radiation will determine your options. Discussing your cancer surgery with a plastic surgeon before undergoing mastectomy is crucial, because the proposed cancer removal surgery may significantly affect the choices and the results of any type of breast reconstruction Revision.

When to consider breast reconstruction Revision:

• If you think reconstruction will give you a sense of psychological well being or a feeling of “wholeness”
• To help restore your feelings of femininity and confidence in your appearance
• To improve symmetry if only one of your breasts is affected
• To allow you to wear low-cut necklines and normal swimwear

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Breast Reduction

Also known as reduction mammaplasty. The goal of breast reduction surgery is to reduce the size of your breasts and reshape them so that they are proportionate to the rest of your body and are no longer a source of physical discomfort. This commonly requested, predictable procedure has the dual benefits of improving your appearance while relieving the physical and emotional burden of overly large breasts.

When to consider breast reduction:

• If your breasts are too large for your body frame and create neck, back, or shoulder pain
• If you have heavy breasts with nipples and areolas (pigmented skin surrounding the nipples) that point downward
• If one breast is much larger than the other
• If you are unhappy and self-conscious about the large appearance of your breasts

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Hand Surgery

If your hand is impaired in any way, surgery may improve your condition. This type of very specialized surgery can treat diseases that cause pain and impair the strength, function and flexibility of your wrist and fingers. Surgery seeks to restore to near normal the function of fingers and hands injured by trauma or to correct abnormalities that were present at birth. Specifically, hand surgery can treat:

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
A condition caused by pressure to the median nerve within the wrist, or carpal tunnel. You might feel pain, a tingling sensation, numbness of the fingers, weakness or aching. Carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with multiple conditions including: repetitive motion or overuse, fluid retention during pregnancy, injury to the nerve in the carpal tunnel or rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis
A disabling disease that can cause severe inflammation in any joint of the body. In the hand, it can deform fingers and impair movement.

Dupuytren’s Contracture
A disabling hand disorder in which thick, scar-like tissue bands form within the palm and may extend into the fingers. It can cause restricted movement, bending the fingers into an abnormal position.

Is it right for me?
Hand surgery is a highly individualized procedure which can be performed on people of any age and is a good option for you if:

• You do not have additional medical conditions or other illnesses that may impair healing
• You are a non-smoker
• You have a positive outlook and realistic goals for your hand surgery
• You are committed to following your plastic surgeon’s prescribed course of treatment
• In some conditions, hand surgery is necessary to treat wounds and to help painful conditions

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Scar Revision

Scar revision surgery is meant to minimize the scar so that it is more consistent with your surrounding skin tone and texture.

Scars are visible signs that remain after a wound has healed. They are unavoidable results of injury or surgery, and their development can be unpredictable. Poor healing may contribute to scars that are obvious, unsightly or disfiguring. Even a wound that heals well can result in a scar that affects your appearance. Scars may be raised or recessed, different in color or texture from surrounding healthy tissue or particularly noticeable due to their size, shape or location.

Your treatment options may vary based on the type and degree of scarring and can include:

• Simple topical treatments, such as bioCorneum+
• Minimally invasive procedures
• Surgical revision with advanced techniques in wound closure

Although scar revision can provide a more pleasing cosmetic result or improve a scar that has healed poorly, a scar cannot be completely erased.

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Skin Cancer Removal

A cancer diagnosis is very difficult to accept. Understanding that treating your skin cancer may result in scars or disfigurement can also be troubling. Your plastic surgeon understands your concerns and will guide you through treatment and explain the resulting effect on your health and appearance.

Skin cancer, much like any form of cancer, may require surgery to remove cancerous growths. Your plastic surgeon can surgically remove cancerous and other skin lesions using specialized techniques to preserve your health and your appearance.

Although no surgery is without scars, your plastic surgeon will make every effort to treat your skin cancer without dramatically changing your appearance.

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Tissue Expansion

Tissue expansion is a relatively straightforward procedure that enables the body to “grow” extra skin for use in reconstructing almost any part of the body.

A silicone balloon expander is inserted under the skin near the area to be repaired and then gradually filled with salt water over time, causing the skin to stretch and grow. It is most commonly used for breast reconstruction Revision following breast removal, but it’s also used to repair skin damaged by birth defects, accidents or surgery, and in certain cosmetic procedures.

If your doctor is recommending tissue expansion, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure — when it can help, how it’s performed, and what results you can expect. It can’t answer all of your questions, however, since much depends on your individual circumstances. Please be sure to ask your surgeon if there is anything you don’t understand about the procedure.

For more information visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.