Breast Reconstruction
Tissue Expander, TRAM Flap, Latissimus Dorsi Flap
"Breast Restoration
"
Breast Reconstruction and Restoration following cancer, trauma and surgery. Call for a consultation with Dr. Chris Costanzo, a Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon and Specialist of the Los Angeles area correction of deformities to your Breasts.
Before and After Pics and Photos of Breast Restoration and Breast Reconstructive Surgery. TRAM and Latissimus Dorsi muscle flaps, as well as Tissue Expanders. Dr. Costanzo services all of Southern California including Thousand Oaks, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Encino, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Ventura, Agoura, Westlake Village, Moorpark, Simi Valley, Santa Barbara, Oxnard, San Diego, Riverside County and Orange County
Breast Reconstructive Procedures
Top Left - After a Breast Biopsy and the Finding of Breast Cancer
Top Right - After Tissue Expander Placement
Bottom Left - Tissue Expander Replaced & Implants both sides - Nipple Reconstruction
Bottom Right - After Tattooing the Nipple for Color
Tissue Expansion
What You Should Know
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Easiest recovery after a Mastectomy
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Best performed immediately following the Mastectomy to prevent scar contracture of the Breast
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Procedure of choice in a Double-sided Mastectomy
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The Tissue Expander is inflated with salt solution to stretch the skin and muscle over several weeks
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The Tissue Expander is generally left in place for months and then replaced with a permanent Breast Implant
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Reconstruction usually takes about 1 year and includes reconstruction of the nipple area if necessary
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Two advantages over a Skin - Muscle Flap :
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Disadvantages:
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For large breasts, surgical shaping on the other side is almost always necessary for a better match to the rounded appearance of Breast Implant
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A poor choice after radiation treatments to the breast
Radiation Therapy and Reconstruction with Implants
For all women who have had radiation therapy placing an implant to reconstruct the breast has a high risk of hardening of the breasts.
But it may be a risk that some women are willing to take. For example, the woman below took that risk and ended up with a great result, as well as soft breasts.
Top Left - After Lumpectomy + Radiation Therapy of the Right Breast for Breast Cancer
Top Right - After a Mentor Spectrum Tissue Expander/Implant on the Right + Implant on the Left
Middle Left - Final Front View After Replacement of Expander with an Implant + Adjustments
Middle Right - Side View Before Beginning Reconstruction
Bottom Left - During Expansion from the Side
Bottom Right - Final Side View After Reconstruction Complete
Latissimus Dorsi (back) Skin Muscle Flap
The Latissimus Dorsi muscle flap, like all other flaps is used in breast reconstruction to add skin lost from the mastectomy. The muscle and a portion of the overlying skin is moved from the back to the front to recreate the breast. Because this flap usually does not have enough bulk, an implant is placed underneath the flap.
Indications for the use of a Latissimus Dorsi Flap
Previous radiation therapy
Loss or poor quality pectoralis muscle which lies under the original breast
Poor skin quality following the mastectomy
A need for bulk and a more maturing looking breast
When other areas, such as the TRAM flap are
not available for use
The Latissimus Dorsi flap is a hardier flap than
the TRAM flap and is less likely to have problems with healing
The need for using an implant with it is it's major disadvantage
TRAM Skin Muscle Flap - Transverse Rectus Abdominus Muscle
The TRAM muscle flap, adds skin and much needed bulk after a Mastectomy. The muscle and a portion of the overlying skin is moved from the abdominal area to recreate the breast. Because this flap usually has enough bulk, a Breast Implant is not needed
TRAM flap reconstruction: After Mastectomy / 6 months after surgery
End result after Nipple Areola Reconstruction and Nipple tattooing for color
Indications for the use of a TRAM Flap
Previous radiation therapy
Loss or poor quality pectoralis muscle which lies under the original breast
Poor skin quality following the mastectomy
A need for bulk and a more maturing looking breast
Good choice for large breasts, because the weight of the flap creates some sloping like the uninvolved side
The TRAM flap doesn't like to be moved and is less hardy than the Latissimus Dorsi Flap
A longer recovery and a longer operation with more chances for complications are it's more disadvantage
Breast Reconstruction and Restoration Surgery with a
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
CALL
Thousand Oaks Plastic Surgeon Dr Costanzo
805 / 373-9919 or 818 / 706-2070
Breast Reconstruction in Thousand Oaks by Christopher Costanzo MD, a Plastic
and
Reconstructive Surgeon trained at the world famous Mayo Clinic. Board Certified in1987
Dr. Costanzo performs Tissue Expanders and Latissimus Dorsi Flap reconstruction, but
no longer performs TRAM flaps. For women in California, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, Encino,
Sherman Oaks, Chatsworth, Woodland Hills, Tarzana, Granada Hills, West Hills, Malibu,
Calabasas,Agoura, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles
County, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County. Dr. Costanzo offers free cosmetic
consultations.
