Enhance New Breasts with Tissue to Boost Confidence After Cancer Surgery

Currently, breast cancer treatment has improved significantly, with continuously increasing rates of recovery and survival. More than just curing cancer, it aims to give patients a better quality of life. Breast reconstruction surgery after breast cancer surgery is widely accepted because it not only restores the patient’s appearance and confidence but also enhances their mental well-being and quality of life. This includes breast augmentation using silicone implants and using the patient’s own tissue.

Why is breast cancer surgery important?

Breast cancer surgery is a treatment method for early-stage breast cancer patients. There are various methods depending on the stage of the disease, size, cancer location, and the body’s readiness for surgery. It includes breast-conserving surgery, which removes some cancerous tissue, suitable for patients with small tumors in the early stages, and total breast removal with new breast reconstruction, which is feasible depending on the tumor’s stage. Breast reconstruction involves either using silicone breast implants or the patient’s own tissue.

What is it like to augment breasts with silicone implants?

Breast reconstruction surgery using silicone implants has been known and accepted for a long time. Silicone is placed to replace the original breast tissue immediately after the breast is removed, preserving the original breast shape as much as possible. Patients tend to recover quickly compared to using their own tissue for reconstruction. However, other complications, such as capsular contracture, can occur, especially if the patient requires radiation therapy after breast surgery.

Augment new breast with tissue, increase confidence after cancer surgery

What is it like to augment breasts using the patient’s own tissue?

Breast augmentation surgery using the patient’s own tissue involves using tissue from various areas to reconstruct the breast, including:

Breast reconstruction using abdominal tissue The doctor uses tissue from the abdomen to replace the removed breast tissue, transferring abdominal tissue along with muscle for blood supply. It suits all breast sizes, reduces abdominal tissue, creates a flatter abdomen, and has low complications with short recovery time. Techniques include:
- Pedicle TRAM Flap The doctor removes the skin, fat, abdominal muscle, and blood vessels below the navel, transferring tissue to the breast surgery site, then reshaping the breast aesthetically. Long-term complications can include hernia and tissue necrosis.
- SIEA Flap (Superficial Inferior Epigastric Artery Flap): The doctor uses tissue from the lower abdomen and places it at the breast surgery site using SIEA artery and paired veins under the skin. This method avoids cutting abdominal muscles, reducing hernia risk, but may not be usable if the patient’s SIEA vessels are too small, and requires surgeon expertise in microsurgery.
- DIEP Flap (Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap): The doctor dissects only the abdominal skin and fat tissue, transferring them to the breast surgery site using microsurgical techniques to maintain blood supply to the chest. This method avoids muscle cutting and long-term muscle loss, requiring specialized surgeon expertise and advanced equipment for the best results.
Breast reconstruction using back muscle (LD Flap – Latissimus Dorsi): The doctor removes back muscle, skin, subcutaneous tissue, and fat, transferring the back muscle under the armpit to create a new breast. It’s suitable for small breasts with minimal sagging or patients who have had previous breast augmentation with other methods. For some patients who can’t use abdominal tissue, back muscle close to the chest aids reconstruction with good blood supply. Scars heal quickly, but shoulder extension muscle use is limited, requiring a break from heavy muscle activities. Complications can include frozen shoulder in the operated arm, so regular arm and shoulder exercises are recommended.

Augment new breast with tissue, increase confidence after cancer surgery

DIEP Flap: A natural-looking strong breast augmentation option

DIEP Flap is a new breast reconstruction surgery using tissue transplantation with main blood vessels supplying lower abdominal tissue, preserving muscle strength better than TRAM Flap by about three times. Transplanting without attached muscle allows shaping of tissue thickness and form closest to natural. DIEP Flap is a breast reconstruction technique using the patient’s own tissue with a low complication rate of less than 1-2% globally, becoming a principal choice worldwide for breast cancer patients. This method ensures durable tissue and natural breast shape, with lower abdominal complications than previous methods.

What are the advantages of tissue breast augmentation?

Shapes tissue and feels natural
The new breast closely resembles a real breast
New breast is more durable than silicone implants
Reduces surgery complications
Boosts confidence in life
No effect on cancer recurrence

Which hospital is skilled in breast cancer treatment?

Breast Center, Bangkok Wattanosoth Cancer Hospital is equipped with modern tools and technology, experienced specialist doctors, ready to provide breast cancer screening, choose suitable breast cancer treatment methods, perform mastectomy, and reconstruct breasts tailored for each patient, supported by a multi-disciplinary team for close care and advice, ensuring a return to good quality of life and confident living again.