Although the name of our practice New Horizons Center for Cosmetic Surgery suggests that our physicians specialize only in cosmetic surgery, Dr Turowski and Dr Lu are fully- trained plastic surgeons who are committed to providing the most advanced and comprehensive breast reconstruction after mastectomy or lumpectomy.
We understand that the diagnosis of breast cancer often presents an emotional and physical strain on you and your family, and we want you to know that we will work in concert with your team of physicians to provide the highest quality of care available in a compassionate manner. You can be assured that our priorities are aligned with you and your cancer doctors, with the top priority to cure your cancer.
Although you may have already been referred to, or have seen another plastic surgeon for a consultation regarding breast reconstruction, you should consider a second opinion from a plastic surgeon specializing in this type of surgery. The decision-making process and overall surgical experience that is vital for the success of these highly complex surgeries are of upmost importance. Therefore, it is important to become fully informed and make an educated decision:
The goal of reconstructive surgery is to restore what has been removed by various approaches based on your preferences and appropriateness of the surgery. During your consultation, we will discuss in detail the available options for breast reconstruction, taking into consideration your medical history, need for adjunctive treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, and personal preferences. Based on this information, we tailor a plan and coordinate surgery with your breast surgeon. If you do not have a breast surgeon, we will be able to refer you to several surgeons specializing in breast cancer surgery. This is of paramount importance, since the final results of an immediate breast reconstruction depend greatly on the teamwork of the breast cancer surgeon and plastic surgeon. It is our goal to provide you with as much information as possible to assist in making an informed decision about breast reconstruction.
Many decisions need to be made to decide which reconstructive option is most appropriate for you. Most breast reconstruction can be performed at the time of the mastectomy, or in other words, ?immediate breast reconstruction?; however, there are rare circumstances where a ?delayed breast reconstruction? may be recommended, depending on if you will require other treatments after the mastectomy. If the reconstructive surgery was not performed during the initial mastectomy surgery, depending on circumstances, delayed breast reconstruction can usually be performed as soon as several weeks after the original surgery. We have also performed breast reconstructions as late as 30 years after the initial mastectomy. Barring any coexisting major medical problems, the age of the patient is usually not a limiting factor.
The reconstructive options available differ in their approach, amount of time for the initial surgery, length of hospitalization and recovery time, and need for future procedures. In general, breast reconstruction, from creation of a breast mound to nipple and areola reconstruction, requires staged procedures, although the subsequent procedures usually are minor outpatient or in-office surgeries with significantly shorter recovery times. To provide our patients an exceptional experience and for their convenience, most of these secondary procedures can be performed in our private fully- accredited state-of-the-art surgery center.
Broadly speaking, breast reconstruction can be divided into ?implant-based? reconstruction or ?autologous?(your own tissue) reconstruction. However, there are reconstructions, such as the latissimus dorsi flap from your back, that incorporates both your own tissue with an implant to create a breast of appropriate volume based on your preferences or to match the other remaining breast.
Before&After Pictures