Breast Reconstruction

Most women who have mastectomies are good candidates for breast reconstruction. Reconstruction can be performed at the time of the mastectomy or delayed for weeks, months or even years after mastectomy. There are three methods of breast reconstruction.

TRAM Flap
The surgeon removes a section of tissue from the patient’s abdomen, moving it to the breast for reconstruction. Drains are placed in the abdomen and breast to release excess fluid during healing. A typical hospital stay is five (5) days and patients typically resume normal daily activity after six or eight weeks.

Latissimus Dorsi Flap
The surgeon removes a section of tissue from the patient’s back, moving it to the breast for reconstruction. A breast implant is inserted and the breast is reconstructed. Drains are placed in the back and breast to release excess fluid during healing. A typical hospital stay is two to three days and patients typically resume normal daily activity after three or four weeks.

Tissue Expansion
The surgeon removes the breast tissue and skin during the mastectomy leaving the chest tissue flat and tight. To create a breast shaped space to accommodate the breast implant, a tissue expander is placed under the remaining chest tissue. The tissue expander is a balloon like device inserted unfilled and over time small amounts of sterile saline fluid is added to the tissue expander. As the tissue expander fills, the tissue over the expander begins to stretch and creates a new breast shaped pocket for the breast implant. The procedure may require a brief hospital stay and patients typically resume normal daily activity after two to three weeks.


To determine the best solution to meet your needs and discuss the operative risks involved, please call our office to schedule a convenient and confidential consultation with Dr. Oslin.

Additional information may be found at American Society of Plastic Surgeons:
http://www.plasticsurgery.org/surgery/brstrec.htm