Breast Reconstruction in Houston, TX
Reconstruction surgery for the breasts is performed to restore them to a normal appearance in size and shape after a mastectomy or lumpectomy.
About Breast Reconstruction
Reconstruction surgery is available to reconstruct a breast damaged by trauma or a birth defect. Advances in breast reconstruction surgery make it possible for you to feel fully healed and attain natural-looking breasts even after removal. At Ellsworth Plastic Surgery, this surgery may involve multiple procedures and various stages that can be performed along with your cancer treatment or delayed until later. Houston, TX, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Warren Ellsworth IV uses a compassionate approach to create a unique treatment plan. He will work with you to restore your confidence and physical appearance.
View Actual Patient Results
Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary.
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What Are The Benefits Of Breast Reconstruction?
A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, and treatments like mastectomy or lumpectomy can leave many women feeling less than complete. Breast reconstruction surgery can help restore your sense of self, improve your body image, and enhance your quality of life. Your breasts will look more natural, and you can choose from various breast reconstruction options that produce stunning results. Dr. Ellsworth can outline these options in full during a consultation.
Ideal Candidates
Breast reconstruction is a very customized procedure. Every patient will have a thorough consultation with Dr. Ellsworth to decide on their treatment plan based on their needs, concerns, and suitable options. If you are thinking about reconstructive surgery, you must have realistic expectations. While Dr. Ellsworth strives to create a natural appearance, your newly reconstructed breast(s) will not have the same look, feel, or sensation as your original breast(s). It would be best if you got clearance from your oncology doctor to have surgery and tell Dr. Ellsworth about any other conditions that could affect healing.
Additional Considerations
While flap procedures are usually successful and a standard method used in breast reconstruction, you may be able to recreate your breast(s) with tissue expansion. Tissue expansion involves placing an expander under the breast wall and slowly filling it with saline over 4 – 6 months until the skin has been adequately stretched to accommodate a breast implant.
After a flap has been created or the skin is stretched with the use of an expander, you can decide whether to use a natural fat transfer or breast implants to create the volume and shape of the breast(s). After your breast reconstruction surgery, you may want to improve the appearance with nipple and areola reconstruction. There are numerous methods to restore the areola and nipple to look more natural.
Surgical Technique
There are several techniques available today for breast reconstruction. There are also many factors that Dr. Ellsworth considers when determining the surgical procedure that will produce the best results. Some of these factors include cancer diagnosis, reconstruction timing, whether you will use natural tissue or implants, and if nipple-sparing or nipple reconstruction is a part of the process. There must be enough tissue to cover the breast mound to rebuild the breast adequately. Flap surgery uses your skin, muscle, and fat to create, protect, and build the breast mound. The most common flap techniques are:
- DIEP Flap
DIEP flap technique uses fat, skin, and blood vessels from the lower stomach but doesn’t take the muscle. The DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flap transfers fat and skin from the abdomen to create the breast mound and uses microsurgery to attach the blood vessels to the chest. The unique benefit of the DIEP flap is the preservation of abdominal wall function, decreasing your risk of hernia after surgery, and a more natural feel and shape than with implants alone. - Latissimus Dorsi Flap
The Latissimus Dorsi flap method uses muscle, skin, and fat from your back. During the procedure, the tissue is moved from the back to the mastectomy site through a surgically created tunnel. It remains attached to the donor location, keeping the original blood supply intact. - TRAM Flap
This method uses muscle, fat, and skin from your abdominal area to build the breast. The tissue used to create the new breast can be detached from the abdomen or it may remain attached to the donor location, keeping the original blood supply.
What To Expect
Breast reconstruction surgery requires general anesthesia when creating a flap, inserting an expander, or placing implants. Some patients will require an overnight stay, depending on the treatment phase.
Dr. Ellsworth will prescribe medication to minimize swelling, bleeding, and discomfort, and you will be placed in a supportive bra. You will be provided with specific information concerning your treatment plan.
“Kind and Thoughtful Surgeon”
Facebook Review:
“Recomiendo 100% al Dr. Ellsworth y todo el staff Que trabaja en sus equipo en especial Carina y Cecilia… Gracias una vez más por su ayuda, y excelente trabajo profesional.”
– V.V.
Google Review:
Extremely grateful and thankful to Dr. Ellsworth and his staff for taking such great care of me! He definitely put my nerves at ease from the moment I met him. His work is impeccable! I’m so happy with the results of my reconstruction and reduction. Highly recommend!”
– S.Y.
Google Review:
“Dr. Ellsworth and team are incredible! My reconstruction surgery was amazing and the nipple sparing procedure a success. Thank you Dr. Ellsworth for your professionalism and always making feel like family!”
– T.C.
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Reclaim Your Self-Confidence
While the breast reconstruction process can be lengthy, it is considered one of the most worthwhile procedures for our Houston, TX, patients at Ellsworth Plastic Surgery. It can help decrease the emotional and physical impact of a mastectomy while also allowing you to restore your self-confidence and figure. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, have had trauma to the chest, or were born with a defect that affects the look of your breasts, we invite you to call our Houston, TX, office and schedule your consultation with Dr. Ellsworth.