According to a report released from the National Academy of Sciences in June 1999, women with silicone breast implants are not more likely than the rest of the population to develop cancer, immuniological diseases or neurological problems. The study was funded by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. The patient is usually educated and counseled in breast reconstructive possibilities prior to mastectomy, so that she can make the decision for or against reconstruction before going into surgery. If chemotherapy is part of the treatment protocol, the surgeon may recommend delayed reconstruction. Any type of surgery carries some risk.
Patients differ in their anatomy and their ability to heal.
A TRAM flap involves removing an area of fat, skin, and muscle from the abdomen and stitching it in place to the mastectomy wound. The latissimus flap uses the muscle and skin and fat from the upper back. Drains are put in place, and recovery time is longer due to the additional surgery, but the care afterward is the same as for mastectomy alone. All rights reserved. All information is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions.