The decision to undergo a cosmetic surgery procedure should be well-thought out. In particular, a surgery such as breast reconstruction can encompass multiple procedures to be performed over many months. Therefore, potential breast reconstruction surgery candidates should carefully evaluate if the procedure is right for them.
The breast reconstruction surgeon will guide the candidate in a comprehensive manner to enable them to make an informed choice. Board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Farah Naz Khan provides breast reconstruction surgery to patients in Dallas, Texas, and surrounding communities across the landscape.
Suitable Candidates
A candidate for the breast reconstruction surgery is a woman who has lost one or both breasts due to breast cancer, and wants to restore her breast appearance. The candidate may choose to start the reconstructive process at the time of the mastectomy or later when she has recovered.
It is important for the patient to have realistic expectations from the cosmetic surgery. She should recognize that reconstruction cannot provide the same look and feel as a natural breast. However, despite the limitations, a breast reconstruction can provide the patient with long-term emotional and physical advantages.
Patients should also realize that not every woman who has had one or both breasts removed may be an ideal candidate for breast reconstruction surgery. The right candidate for breast reconstruction surgery will be a woman who:
- Is interested in restoring the size and shape of one or both breasts
- Has been declared free of cancerous tissue
- Does not smoke or can quit smoking as per the surgeons instructions
- Has endured the mastectomy surgery and breast cancer treatments well
- Is not suffering from severe hypertension and diabetes
- Has clear objectives and realistic expectations
Patients suffering from heart disease or diabetes may have a heightened risk during the breast reconstruction procedure, and may also be more susceptible to complications after the surgery.
Flap and Implant Reconstruction Candidates
Potential recipients of breast reconstruction surgery who decide on surgical techniques such as TRAM, latissimus, dorsi, gluteal, or DIEP flap methods should not have any underlying health complications that might affect their surgery. These surgical techniques include the removal of tissue from various sites on the body, and are typically more invasive than the implant reconstruction technique.
Flap reconstruction technique is often recommended for candidates who are undergoing unilateral breast reconstruction (restoring a single breast). The flap reconstruction method makes it easier to match the appearance and feel of the other natural breast when conducting tissue migration.
If the candidate is an older woman, implant reconstruction may be more beneficial because it is less invasive and requires less recovery time. Furthermore, women who do not have significant excess tissue available may also be better candidates for the implant reconstruction. The implant method is more advantageous to bilateral patients since it can effectively achieve symmetrical and impressive results.
Tremendous, kind, and board certified female plastic surgeon Dr. Farah Naz Khan receives patients from Dallas, Texas, and other cities and towns in this stellar and wonderful part of the country for breast reconstruction surgery and various other cosmetic and reconstructive procedures.
To schedule a consultation with Board Certified Dallas Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Farah Khan please call 469-437-5426 or click here to contact us.