Breast Reconstruction

Non-Autologous

Expander / Implant

Breast reconstruction following cancer surgery can be accomplished using the same silicone implants that are often used for breast augmentation. The procedures are similar, but using them for reconstruction is a more difficult procedure because of the lack of native breast tissue to hide the implants for a more natural result. Implants are placed underneath the pectoralis major muscle, which can hide the implant superiorly. Inferiorly, we place cover the implant using a piece of acellular dermis that helps camaflouge the implant. Reconstructions are typically performed in two stages, where a tissue expander is placed first to recruit more of your own tissue for the reconstruction. During a second stage, the expanders are exchanged out for silicone implants. Sometimes patients may be good candidates for a single-staged procedure, without the need for expander placement.