Before and after bilateral immediate implant reconstruction in a 62 year old woman. She was diagnosed with DCIS in one breast and learned from genetic testing that she was a carrier of the BRCA gene. She chose to have bilateral nipple sparing mastectomies and immediate breast implant reconstruction.
After menopause, she had lost volume in her breasts, which were previously her “best asset”. She had not had children and was not used to their loss of volume with age. Her goal was to be reconstructed fuller than her current breast size.
Bilateral nipple sparing mastectomies were performed through an inframammary fold incision. At the same procedure, smooth round saline filled permanent, adjustable implants were placed and fully inflated at the time of surgery. She stayed two nights in the hospital and had her drains removed on postoperative day 8. She took only plain Tylenol for pain and one month off exercise.
No additional inflations of saline were required. This truly was a single stage immediate breast implant reconstruction! Her ports (visible from the side view) were kept in place under her chest skin until she was fully healed and ready for port removal (3 months). Early follow up photos are shown at 4 weeks after surgery.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
