Mastectomy Alone
Many women elect to have no breast reconstruction at all after mastectomy preferring to remain completely flat.
It’s important to factor into your decision that reconstruction could mean more surgery following a mastectomy.
Know the facts about scars!
Mastectomy scars vary in size and character.
Mastectomy scars typically are oriented horizontally across your chest.
Scars take almost a full year to mature to their final form.
Usually, scars become more red in the first few months, and eventually become more pale, and flat.
In addition to the linear mastectomy scar , you may have a “contour deformity” where the breast tissue was resected, meaning that you may have an indentation or tight/adherent area of scarring. This may be more pronounced if you have had radiation to that breast. (See RADIATION information)
Things that have been shown to improve scarring include:
Firm scar massage along the direct of the scar
Silicone sheet scar therapy
Avoid sun tanning or sun exposure to scar for one year.
Some patients may develop Hypertrophic (scar that are raised, wide and red), or Keloid (Scar that have a raised shape that extends beyond the borders of the initial scar). See SCAR MANAGEMENT for more.
FAT GRAFTING
Fat grafting provides a surgical option help with chest contour deformities or a scar that is tight or tethered to the chest wall after surgery.
This involves liposuction or removal of fast cells from one area of your body (usually your belly, flanks or thighs), and injecting it under the scarred tissue. Often multiple repeat treatments are needed to get sufficient contour change.
See FAT GRAFTING for more information.
Don’t want surgery but also don’t want to remain flat?
Some women elect to wear breast prostheses or synthetic bra implants to provide form and contour under their clothes.
Synthetic Breast Protheses
Synthetic prostheses are commonly used following mastectomy, and there are many high-quality and anatomically favourable options available.
Patients may have a prosthesis if they choose not to have reconstruction after mastectomy or want improved contour following lumpectomy.
You may also use a prosthesis if you are medically too unwell to undergo surgery for reconstruction or if you are still having ongoing cancer treatments, such as radiation.