Women who undergo a procedure to treat their breast cancer, may experience a variety of emotions. We understand the one thing you shouldn't feel is ashamed of how your breasts look. That's why we offer a wide variety of reconstructive options for restoring the breast or improving contour irregularities following surgery. If you had a mastectomy, lumpectomy or radiation, we can give your breasts a more natural look, so you can look and feel your best.
Techniques include:
Tissue Expansion
During tissue expansion, a balloon inserted under your chest muscle is gradually filled with saline over a period of several weeks or months. The gradual inflation of the balloon stretches the skin and tissue over your chest to make room for an implant. After the tissue is adequately expanded, your surgeon performs a second surgery to remove the tissue expander and replace it with a permanent implant.
Pedicle TRAM Flap
In a pedicle TRAM flap procedure, the surgeon cuts a section of skin, muscle, fat and blood vessels from your abdomen, tunnels the tissue underneath your skin to its new location and uses it to form a new breast mound.
Latissimus Dorsi Flap
In this flap procedure, the surgeon takes tissue from the latissimus dorsi muscle in your back, tunnels it underneath your skin to its new location and uses it to form a new breast mound.
Not all treatments, tests and services are available at all Mayo Clinic Health System locations. Check with your preferred location in advance.