Breast Reconstruction Services at Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery: Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Just Around the Corner

Empowering Survivors During Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast Reconstruction in Washington DC

Breast cancer is a life-altering journey that deeply impacts a woman’s physical and emotional well-being. For those who have undergone a mastectomy, double-mastectomy, or lumpectomy, the loss of one or both breasts can feel devastating. At Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery, we are DC breast reconstruction before after dedicated to helping breast cancer survivors restore not only their physical appearance but also their confidence and sense of femininity. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, we want to highlight our comprehensive breast reconstruction services that empower women to reclaim their bodies and move forward with renewed self-assurance.

Breast reconstruction can help survivors look and feel like themselves again by restoring or replacing the breasts after surgery. Every woman’s experience with breast cancer is unique, and so is her path to recovery. That’s why our plastic surgeons specialize in various breast reconstruction techniques, including tissue expander and implant reconstruction, DIEP flap (using abdominal skin and fat), pre-pectoral reconstruction, and more. During your consultation, we’ll work closely with you to evaluate your specific needs and goals, ensuring you receive the care and outcome that’s right for you.

Welcome to our blog! If you’re looking for breast reconstruction before and after photos click here!

If you are interested in our breast cancer resources available click here!

A personalized approach to DC breast reconstruction

At Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery, we believe that every woman deserves personalized care when it comes to breast reconstruction. Whether you’re looking for a natural reconstruction using your tissue or opting for implants, our experienced surgeons will guide you through the process, discussing options such as the DIEP flap, fat grafting, or breast implants. Our innovative techniques, such as muscle animation repair, help address any post-reconstruction concerns, ensuring that your results not only look good but feel natural and comfortable.

We understand that making decisions about breast reconstruction can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face this journey alone. We encourage you to explore the resources we’ve gathered over the years, which our patients have found helpful. From breast cancer support groups to lymphatic massage services, these resources can help you navigate both your physical and emotional recovery. We are also proud to partner with Pink Perfect, offering custom-made nipples for those who want to add a finishing touch to their reconstruction.

Why choose Bruno|Brown for your breast reconstruction in DC?

Our breast surgeons in DC are leaders in breast reconstruction, with decades of experience and countless success stories. Our team is dedicated to helping each patient achieve the best possible outcome. We’ll review your options in detail during your consultation, ensuring that you feel confident and informed every step of the way.

To further support your recovery, we have created a comprehensive Breast Cancer Resources document on our website, offering additional tools and information to enhance your healing journey. You deserve the highest quality care as you take these brave steps toward reclaiming your life after breast cancer.

Schedule a consultation with our breast surgeon in Washington DC today and learn how breast reconstruction can help you feel whole again. Let us help you explore the possibilities and guide you through every phase of your journey.

Compassionate care for every step of your breast reconstruction journey

Breast reconstruction is about more than just restoring the physical appearance of your breasts—it’s about helping you regain your confidence and feel like yourself again. At Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery, we are committed to providing compassionate, expert care to help you achieve your desired outcome. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month approaches, we invite you to take the first step toward healing by learning more about our services and scheduling a consultation. Together, we’ll work toward helping you feel beautiful, empowered, and whole again.

Combining Breast Procedures with Breast Reduction Chevy Chase

How breast reductions can complement other breast procedures

Breast appearance holds significant importance for many women due to its impact on self-image. The desire for breast enhancement or reductions stems from personal and social influences, reflecting individual body image issues, but also from physical or medical issues. The breast area is a common focus for plastic surgery due to its prominence in defining overall body proportions and silhouette.

A common breast procedure is breast reduction. A reduction surgery addresses the challenges posed by oversized breasts, which can create obstacles in daily life such as finding suitable clothing, performing household chores, exercising comfortably, and sleeping. These oversized breasts can also lead to physical pain, particularly in the neck and back, and can contribute to self-confidence issues. Breast reduction not only reduces the weight of the breasts but also reshapes them to align with the patient’s body goals and improve overall comfort and confidence. According to the National Library of Medicine, the psychological impact of hypermastia, or the existence of extra accessory breast tissue, is significant, leading many patients to feel embarrassed about their size. A breast reduction can be performed as a standalone procedure or can be combined with other breast enhancements, such as lifts, implants, or reconstruction, to achieve a more tailored and comprehensive outcome that meets the individual’s unique needs. Breast Reduction Surgery DC

Chevy Chase breast lift & reduction combination

A breast lift, known as a mastopexy, is designed to lift and reshape sagging or drooping breasts by repositioning the nipple and areola to a higher position and removing excess skin. While it doesn’t necessarily change the size of the breasts, it creates a more youthful and lifted appearance.

Combining a breast lift with a reduction, often called a reduction mastopexy or reduction with lift, is a common and effective approach. Women with large breasts often face not only excessive volume but also sagging or drooping due to the weight of the breasts. Performing both procedures together allows the surgeon to address both of these issues comprehensively in one surgery, resulting in smaller breasts, lifted, and more proportionate to the patient’s body.

Combining reduction with breast implants Chevy Chase

Breast implants, commonly referred to as augmentation mammoplasty, involve placing saline or silicone implants to enhance the size and shape of the breasts. When combined with breast reduction, this procedure is referred to as reduction augmentation or reduction mammoplasty with implants. It is particularly beneficial for patients who desire reduction in breast size, while also seeking increased breast fullness.

Some patients may find that after their reduction procedure, their breasts lose upper pole fullness or become deflated, especially if a significant volume is removed. In such cases, implants can restore the fullness and create a more rounded and lifted breast appearance. This combination approach allows for a customized approach to achieve the desired new breast and shape while also improving symmetry and proportion for a balanced and aesthetically pleasing result.

Breast reduction‘s role in breast reconstruction Chevy Chase

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure designed to rebuild the shape and appearance of a breast that has been removed, often due to breast cancer or other medical reasons. The primary goal of breast reconstruction is to restore a natural-looking breast mound, helping patients regain a sense of normalcy and confidence after mastectomy.

Interestingly, breast reconstruction can be combined with breast reduction surgery, despite initially seeming like distinct procedures with opposite goals. According to the National Cancer Institute, many women who experience early-stage breast cancer undergo a partial mastectomy, which does not always require reconstruction. However, some women choose to undergo a type of breast-conserving surgery called oncoplastic surgery, which may include reconstruction through breast reduction. In such cases, a surgeon may perform a reduction as part of the reconstruction process to achieve a more balanced and proportionate result. This combination approach demonstrates the versatility of breast procedures in addressing both medical and aesthetic aspects of breast health.

Combined breast procedures at Bruno|Brown: Customize your silhouette

When considering breast procedures, it’s crucial to recognize that each person’s journey is unique and should be approached with a customized, personalized process. This involves understanding not just the desired outcome, such as increasing or reducing breast size, but also considering the overall harmony and balance of the body. At Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery, our holistic approach to breast procedures sets us apart.

Our doctors, known as some of the area’s top-rated plastic surgeons, prioritize the entire body when determining the best path for achieving a new breast shape. We understand that enhancing the breasts is just one aspect of creating a beautiful natural look that complements the individual’s body proportions and aesthetic goals.

Serving the greater DC metro area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia, Bruno|Brown brings decades of experience and expertise to every patient, ensuring they feel safe with the latest, most innovative practices. Our commitment to personalized care and exceptional results make us a trusted choice for all your breast surgery needs.

To learn more about combined breast procedures, schedule a consultation today!

A New Approach: Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction

Pre-pectoral breast reconstruction is an alternative approach to traditional breast reconstruction, where the implants are placed over the muscle instead of underneath it.

Prepectoral breast reconstruction resultsPre-pectoral breast reconstruction has been made possible in large part by the use of biological mesh products (called acellular dermal matrices) that can substitute for muscle to cover, protect, and support a patient’s implants.

According to a recent article in The New York Times:

“Placing breast implants under the chest muscle, a procedure called post-pectoralis or sub-muscular placement, has been the standard approach to implant breast reconstruction for decades. But now some surgeons are placing the implants on top of the muscle, in an effort to reduce complications like pain, weakness and breast deformities that can occur with sub-muscular implants when the chest muscles are flexed.”

The article goes on to interview Dr. Sbitany, an associate professor of plastic and reconstructive surgery at UC San Francisco and a consultant for Allergan, a manufacturer of the mesh products:

“Dr. Sbitany said that since he started talking about the new option, known as prepectoral breast reconstruction, he has been besieged by patients who have had submuscular implants for five, 10 or 15 years and want the reconstruction done over. Artificial breast implants are the most common method of breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

When patients want them replaced, Dr. Sbitany said, he removes the old implants, places the pectoralis major muscle back down where it used to be and inserts new implants on top of the muscle, using biological mesh to cover and support them under the skin.

‘There is no question that putting the implant below the muscle causes increased rates of pain and chronic discomfort with any physical activity — not in every woman, but in a consistent number of patients,’ said Dr. Sbitany.”

Washington, DC Area Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction 

The physicians at Bruno|Brown Plastic Surgery are a part of a forward-thinking movement that challenges the traditional under-the-muscle technique. While there are many patients who still benefit from this traditional method, the number of patients eligible for pre-pectoral breast reconstruction is growing.

Dr. Brown and Dr. Bruno routinely lecture nationwide on this technique and take part in educational labs in teaching plastic surgeon colleagues.

Benefits of Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction Include:

  • No muscle fatigue or chronic pain
  • No muscle animation or pull on skin
  • Quicker recovery, less pain, less downtime

Candidates for Pre-Pectoral Breast Reconstruction Include:

  • Patients undergoing mastectomy
    Previously reconstructed patients
    Active patients

The pre-pectoral breast reconstruction procedure may not be the best fit for all patients, so make sure you discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Contact us today to set up your consultation.

 

 

The Impact of Animation Deformity on Quality of Life in Post-Mastectomy Reconstruction Patients

From The Aesthetic Surgery Journal
By Hilton Becker, Nicole Fregosi

Background: Animation deformity after subpectoral breast implant placement has been documented; however, the actual prevalence and effect on patient quality of life has not been studied much.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to show that all patients with subpectoral implants experience some degree of animation deformity and that it can affect their quality of life, including causing embarrassment and discomfort in reconstructed patients.

Methods: Patients who underwent breast implant surgery were contacted for inclusion in the study. Patients were obtained from a single surgeon’s practice but included patients operated on outside the practice, and those seen in the practice for a consultation. A six-item questionnaire was developed by the senior author (H.B.) and the medical student (N.F.) involved in the study, to assess quality of life related to animation deformity. Patients had their degree of animation deformity assessed by the senior author and a medical student.

Results: Of 25 patients who agreed to the questionnaire and assessment, 20% had grade I distortion, 44% grade II, 24% grade III, and 12% grade IV. Of the patients questioned, 80% were bothered by an animation deformity and 45% of those patients were bothered to a significant degree (≥6 out of 10). In addition, 48% of patients felt that the animation deformity interfered with their daily life, and 28% (7/25) of patients underwent, or were scheduled to undergo, revision of their reconstruction at the time of interview. The degree of the clinically observed animation deformity was correlated with patient dissatisfaction, with an R value of 0.47 (P value = 0.0145).

Conclusions: All patients with subpectoral implant positioning will experience some degree of animation deformity. Especially in the reconstructed breast population, animation deformity, and its severity, affects patients’ quality of life. Other approaches to reconstruction should be considered to prevent animation deformity in this population.

Read the original article here.

For more information regarding breast reconstructive surgery in the Washington DC, Maryland, Northern Virginia area, schedule a consultation with Bruno | Brown Plastic Surgery.