Before and after bilateral breast reconstruction revision in a 53 year old woman. She previously had undergone left mastectomy and submuscular implant reconstruction after treatment for breast cancer, with a balancing right submuscular breast augmentation.
She had a painful animation deformity that limited her from exercising normally and affected which necklines she could wear without embarrassment.
Her breast revision involved removal of her old breast implants, replacement of her pectoralis major muscles to the chest wall and conversion of her reconstruction to a prepectoral location. Smooth round silicone gel breast implants were placed on top of the muscle, which eliminated her animation/flexion deformity.
Her left nipple was moved slightly downwards on the breast mound as a free graft so it lay at the same height as her other nipple. Bilateral areola tattoos brightened her both areola circles.
Symmetry is vital in breast reconstruction, not only for the breasts themselves but for the areolas (size, height, color intensity and hue) as well. Free fat grafting added a small amount of fat to her upper pole, to the benefit of her fat grafting donor sites.
Follow up photos are shown 9 months after a single surgery. She has improved symmetry, an improved aesthetic result, and most importantly, return to exercise and wearing whatever top she likes without discomfort or self-consciousness.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
