Before and after bilateral breast reconstruction revision in a 58 year old breast cancer survivor with submuscular implants. She experienced pain and tightness of her chest every hour that she was awake, and contraction of her chest muscles caused wrinkling of her breast skin, seen when she flexes her muscles. This is called “animation deformity”.
Her revision involved removal of the previously placed saline breast implants from under the muscle, replacing her pectoralis major muscles to the chest wall, and creation of a new implant pocket on top of the muscle, in the prepectoral position.
Smooth round silicone gel breast implants were placed in a more natural location in this new space, which eliminated her pain, tightness and corrected the animation deformity. Liposuction removed excess fat from her armpits and bra rolls, known as the axillary rolls. Her right nipple was reconstructed using the local flap technique, and medical tattoo created an areolar circle.
Follow up photos are shown 1 year after surgery. Her areola reconstruction could be further improved by paramedical tattoo by a specialist who offers more natural shading and three-dimensional contour.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
