“I hope that other women can benefit from my experience” writes Angelina Jolie in a New York Times op-ed column published today. The actress and director revealed that she recently chose to have a double mastectomy after doctors told her she had the breast cancer gene BRCA1, meaning Jolie has an (estimated) 87 percent risk […]
Angelina Jolie Writes About Her Mastectomy and Breast Reconstruction Read More »
Study shows texting aids recovery process after surgery. While text messaging started out as a fad among teenagers, today its widespread use has extended to breast reconstruction after mastectomy. A recent study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that text messaging between the patient and surgeon led to faster recovery times. Women who exchanged texts
Text Your Doctor, Get Better Sooner Read More »
Remote control system allows patients to conveniently and comfortably undergo breast tissue expansion Until recently, tissue expansion, a procedure that enables the body to grow extra skin in breast reconstruction, was limited to injections, which involved several office visits. A silicone balloon expander was inserted under the skin near the area to be repaired, then
Wireless Tissue Expanders Promising for Breast Reconstruction Read More »
Study shows that, regardless of selection, satisfaction with silicone implants will likely be high. When undergoing breast reconstruction, women have many options: Saline or silicone? Implants or autologous (using one’a own tissue)? Immediate or delayed reconstruction? However, a recent study of women who chose round vs. anatomical “shaped” silicone implants may help ease the decision-making
Round or Shaped: Which Breast Implant to Choose? Read More »
“Natural” looking and feeling silhouette a new option in breast surgery Recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the Natrelle 410 breast implant offers yet another option for women undergoing breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. Unlike the “round” look usually found in implants, the anatomically shaped silhouette closely mirrors the natural curves of a
FDA Approves Natrelle 410 Silicone Breast Implants from Allergan Read More »
Breast surgery can affect your shoulder and arm One of the biggest questions out of the gate after reconstructive surgery is: When can I resume normal activity and exercise? The answer varies with each woman and situation and depends on the type of procedure and amount of surgery involved. And indeed, the various surgeries can
Exercising after Reconstruction: How Much, When, How Long Read More »
Nipple-sparing mastectomy uses patient’s own tissue “Nipple-sparing” procedures are a relatively new but increasingly popular option for women undergoing reconstructive breast surgery. In these procedures, the surgeon preserves the nipple-areola complex (NAC) for immediate use. Although technically challenging and requiring careful planning, a nipple-sparing mastectomy with autologous (using one’s own tissue) breast reconstruction can be
New Option in Autologous Breast Reconstruction Read More »
Recent survey reveals higher satisfaction and quality of life after augmentation. While undergoing reconstructive surgery and subsequent augmentation may not always be a woman’s first choice, it can lead to increased satisfaction and quality of life, according to a recent article in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Using a questionnaire, the BREAST-Q, to analyze patient-reported reactions
Can Breast Surgery Make You Happier? Read More »
Study shows that, for early-stage breast cancers, survival rates are higher for women opting for lumpectomy rather than mastectomy. A new study questions previous research that lumpectomy and mastectomy are similarly effective in terms of beating breast cancer. Published online in the journal Cancer, the study revealed that, in early stage breast cancer, “lumpectomy is
New Study: Lumpectomy Beats Mastectomy in Early Cancer Survival Read More »
Not only are more women opting for immediate breast reconstruction, but more are using implants. Researchers are somewhat flummoxed by a new bump in breast reconstruction. Not only are more women undergoing immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy, according to the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, but an increasing number are opting for implants,
ASAP: Reconstruction After Mastectomy Read More »
