Before and after right breast reconstruction revision and left balancing breast reduction and lift in a 50-year-old breast cancer survivor. Her cancer treatment had left her with significant asymmetry, with her right submuscular implant causing pain and tightness, and her bra pulling to the left due to the bigger size and weight of her left breast. She wanted both breasts to be slightly smaller.
Her revision involved downsizing her right breast implant, changing it from overfilled saline to silicone, and placing it on top of the muscle, in the prepectoral position. This involves reconstruction of her pectoralis major musculature and reattaching it to the chest wall. This requires a drain for a week after surgery and limited right arm pushing, pulling and lifting more than 5 pounds for a full month afterwards.
Her left breast was reduced in size and lifted to achieve improved symmetry with the reconstructed breast. Her right nipple was reconstructed using the “nipple sharing” technique, where a portion of the left nipple was grafted to the right.
Medical tattoo created a left areola circle at the same time. Nowadays, we refer to specialized 3D-nipple areola tattoo specialists who do a better job at tattooing than Plastic Surgeons!
Follow up photos are shown 2 months after surgery with pink scars, bright tattoo (that will fade over time and look more normal) and greater symmetry to the breasts.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
