Elderly Care: Helping You Deal With the Dying Process
Breast Surgery Surgeons Perform A Variety Of Reconstructive Procedures For Breast Cancer Patients Following Mastectomy
Julio Carr
Breast reconstruction to recreate your breast through surgery is an innovative technology that breast surgery surgeons use to replace tissue you've lost during mastectomy surgery. Cancer cells that have metastasized throughout your breast require surgical removal of the breast. Breast reconstruction of your choice can be performed when the breast is removed. You also have the choice of delaying reconstruction until you're psychologically and medically ready for the procedure.
Creating Nipple
Your reconstruction surgeon and you have different operation techniques from which to choose in rebuilding your breast mound and recreating the nipple as well. Should you require nipple reconstruction, you'll be well informed about nipple sparing mastectomy or areola-sparing mastectomy, since different techniques will be applied in either of those two choices.
Types Of Reconstruction
For reconstruction to occur, your surgeon uses distinctive reconstruction methods that may be tissue-based or expansion-based. Within the choices, you may be offered any of a subgroup of pedicled flaps that include latissimus flap, TRAM flap or free TRAM flap. Yet another type of flap choice is called autologous pedicle flaps. Pedicle flaps mean the blood supply to a grafted flap remains attached during the grafting process. You may be a candidate for autologous pedicled flaps, which means your surgeon will be using tissue, skin, muscle or fat by grafting the choice from another area of your body.
Tissue Expander
Be aware that you may need to have a temporary tissue expander placed after the mastectomy to accommodate a permanent breast implant, if that's your choice. It must correspond to the size of your removed breast. Following cancer surgery, your surgeon would then create this temporary device. It's created from a silicone shell and filled with salt water. During your outpatient visits after surgery, saline is used to fill up the tissue expander. This activity stretches the muscle and skin to a volume that your surgeon deems to be acceptable. The activity continues for approximately one to two months.
Reconstruction Choices Based On Your Body Type
Your surgeon will use your unique choice of surgical method that is best for your body type while taking into consideration your aesthetic preferences and needs. Your plastic reconstruction surgeon's goal is to return your breast form to the full-bodied good breast health that you had prior to cancer diagnosis and subsequent removal of your breast. The entire process of breast reconstruction options will be thoroughly outlined during your consultation appointment before you undergo mastectomy surgery.
Speak with reconstructive surgeons in your area to learn more.
Share
As an elderly care worker, I have witnessed the deaths of many individuals. I have seen family members become angry, sad, and completely silent at the end. I have also seen individuals refuse to see family members out of denial. People deal with death in different ways, and the strong emotions are often unfamiliar and scary. If you have a parent or grandparent who is elderly, then I want to share with you what I know about end of life care and dying process. We are a society that does not talk about death, and this can cause great pain when a family member dies. Learn about the process and find out how to deal with your own emotions and how to love your family members at the end. If there is only a small amount of time left, then I want you to cherish the final moments.