Breast Enhancement

With improved procedures to manage breast cancer, the breast cancer survival rates have risen in the recent years. This means that there are a larger number of women that have undergone either a mastectomy, lumptectomy or quadrantectomy.  The breast cancer survival rates depend on the stage of the cancer and not necessarily the type of surgery performed.

Data from the National Cancer Database for the period 2001 -2002 showed that the 5 year breast cancer survival rate for stage 2A breast cancer was 81% following the completion of treatment and that of 2B tumors was 74%. Since therapies for breast cancer have treatment have tremendously improved, the breast cancer survival rates for the current period are expected to be higher.

These surgeries can have a huge impact on the survivor’s self-confidence and self-esteem as well as the feminity and sexuality. To overcome this, many women opt for breast reconstruction surgery. With the high breast cancer survival rates, the number of breast reconstructive surgery rates has also gone up.

Breast enhancement through breast reconstructive surgery can be performed in women that have had either part or the whole breast removed. Breast implants as a breast reconstructive technique require the least amount of surgery compared to other techniques. Breast implants last between 10 to 20 years. The high breast cancer survival rates that the patient may outlive the life of the implant.

When deciding the best approach to breast cancer therapy and improving the breast cancer survival outcomes, the options of breast cancer reconstruction should be carefully considered.  Being involved in the treatment plans allows for better recovery and improved outcomes following the high breast cancer survival rates.  With the current breast cancer survival rates, two procedures are commonly chosen for breast reconstruction: a two stage breast reconstruction with implants or a Flap surgery with or without breast implants.

Two stage breast reconstruction is a procedure that involves the use of a tissue expander followed by the insertion of an implant. There are various choices of breast implants available for this type of surgery. In the first part of the surgery, an expander is used to create a pocket. It is inserted under the chest muscles and inflated slowly to fill out the skin from the mastectomy over time.  In this way the stretching of the chest muscles can be controlled. Furthermore the patient that has a good breast cancer survival rate is able to determine the size of the final implant. Individuals that opt for a teardrop shaped implant have better results with this type of surgery.

In the second part of the surgery can be conducted as an outpatient procedure. During this process, the expander is removed, and the chosen implant is inserted. This two stage process allows for better prediction of the end result and more accurate achievement of the required results. This is an attractive procedure for patients with growing breast cancer survival rates.