Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons restore lives by offering the full spectrum of breast reconstruction options
By Olivia Bloom
Women facing a mastectomy—whether as part of treatment for breast cancer or for prophylactic reasons—are also faced with the decision regarding whether or not to have breast reconstruction.
Breast reconstruction is the re-creation of a woman’s breast through surgery, either with an implant or her body’s own tissue. This procedure can be done at the time of mastectomy or delayed until the patient is medically and/or psychologically ready.
Having had the privilege of performing thousands of breast reconstruction procedures, the surgeons at Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons understand firsthand that informing women of their breast reconstruction options before or at the time of diagnosis is critically important to improving their quality of life after breast cancer.
Helping Women Make Informed Choices
“At Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons, we work closely with our patients to offer compassionate and individualized care along with state-of-the-art breast reconstruction,” says Douglas Wagner, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon with comprehensive expertise in breast reconstruction.
“We believe it is important to give our patients choices, and there are many different techniques out there that have an equal rate of success.”
Patients can achieve excellent cosmetic results, whether they choose to have implant breast reconstruction or the newer Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction surgery. Both options can provide excellent cosmetic results.
Implant Reconstruction
Most patients are familiar with implant reconstruction, which is the most common form of breast reconstruction surgery and uses either a silicone or saline implant to rebuild the breast.
Good candidates for implant surgery include patients who tend to be thinner and have a smaller cup size, or patients who may not be as healthy or have other health issues that require a less invasive procedure.
“Implant breast reconstruction provides several benefits,” says Dr. Wagner.
“Implants can provide the opportunity to restore breast volume and shape after a mastectomy. Implant reconstruction is usually a slightly shorter procedure than natural tissue reconstruction techniques. Implant reconstruction doesn’t require additional healing in a separate donor site such as the abdomen, and hospitalization is usually a day or so less.
Recent advancements using pre-pectoral placement reduces pain and recovery time associated with the older method of placing the implant beneath the pectoralis major muscle. Time back to activities is usually around three to four weeks compared to four to six weeks with most natural tissue techniques. And, while the implants may need to be replaced after 15 years, replacing them is an outpatient procedure.”
The DIEP Flap
Considered the gold standard for autologous breast reconstruction, the DIEP flap surgical technique uses the patient’s own abdominal skin and fat to reconstruct a natural, warm, soft breast after mastectomy.
Excess living fat from below the belly button is transplanted to the chest to give back volume and shape without sacrificing abdominal muscles. In addition to reconstructing the breast, the contour of the abdomen is often improved—similar to a tummy tuck.
Only three percent of surgeons in the country perform the procedure, including those at Crystal Clinic.
“We are thrilled to offer the DIEP surgery as an option for breast reconstruction surgery, as it is not available in many parts of the country,” explains Derek Cody, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in performing the DIEP surgery.
“The DIEP surgery is ideal for patients with an active lifestyle, as it preserves all of the abdominal muscles. Patients experience less pain and maintain their core strength long term,” says Dr. Cody.
“DIEP reconstruction surgery takes longer to perform, involves a longer hospital stay with a slightly longer recovery time as compared to implant reconstruction, but it has a low complication rate and avoids the long-term maintenance inherent in implant-based reconstruction.”
Reconstructing Breasts, Restoring Lives
If you are facing a breast cancer diagnosis or simply wish to improve the appearance of your breasts, the team of skilled, compassionate and experienced surgeons at Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons is ready to help.
“At Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons, we are proud to offer all breast reconstruction options to our patients,” shares Dr. Cody. “Our ability to offer all of the options makes Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons unique. Our goal is to not just reconstruct a breast, but to also restore our patients’ lives.”
Meet the Survivors
In October 2017, Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons presented its inaugural “Pink Runway” event, designed to bring awareness to the fact that breast reconstruction is the right of every woman who has had, or is planning to have, a mastectomy. Watch for information to attend the 2018 “Pink Runway” event.
The Pink Runway celebrated the beauty, style, strength and perseverance of Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgery patients and breast cancer survivors, who modeled fall fashions and inspired attendees with their stories of overcoming breast cancer and what their breast reconstruction surgery has meant to them. Two of the inspirational models who shared their stories are Drusilla Allende and Jill Batty.
A breast cancer survivor, Drusilla Allende came to Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons after her first breast reconstruction surgery didn’t give her the results she wanted. Dr. Cody revised her reconstruction, and Drusilla now enjoys flattering curves in all the right places.
In 2014, Jill Batty underwent a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with ductal breast cancer in her left breast and lobular breast cancer in her right breast. At the time of her mastectomy, Dr. Wagner performed an immediate breast reconstruction with bilateral implants. Jill has adjusted to her new normal and urges all women facing a cancer diagnosis to strongly consider breast reconstruction surgery.
To make an appointment with a Crystal Clinic Plastic Surgeons board-certified surgeon, call (888) 986-9582. Offices are conveniently located in Montrose, Green, Hudson, Medina and Wadsworth. For more information visit CrystalPlasticSurgeons.com.