breast reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is a highly cosmetic procedure that aims to restore the shape of breasts that have been deformed after breast cancer surgery, helping patients live brighter, more positive lives. Our hospital has established a Breast Center, where we provide medical care for breast diseases in cooperation with doctors and staff from the Departments of Breast Surgery, Radiology, and Medical Oncology.

• 1. Method

  • Autologous tissue reconstruction

    This method involves transplanting the patient's own tissue to the chest. Reconstruction using the latissimus dorsi or rectus abdominis muscles allows for the transplantation of these muscles without disrupting daily life, provided that occupational restrictions are not an issue. Furthermore, it is possible to transfer sufficient tissue for reconstruction. This method is often used when the pectoralis major muscle is removed during breast cancer surgery or when postoperative radiation therapy reduces blood circulation in the skin. The choice of flap depends on the size of the breast and the patient's build. In recent years, a new method has emerged in which the patient reconstructs abdominal skin and adipose tissue as free flaps, without sacrificing the rectus abdominis muscle, by attaching the small blood vessels (perforators) that flow into the skin from the inferior epigastric artery and vein. While this method has the advantage of not harvesting muscle, it has the disadvantage of requiring a longer surgical time, as the small perforators are detached from the rectus abdominis muscle and sutured to the chest blood vessels using microsurgery techniques.

    A scar will remain where the flap was taken, but it will be sutured using plastic surgery techniques and will become much less noticeable over time.

    Rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap

    The cranial side of one rectus abdominis muscle is moved to the chest, attached with skin and adipose tissue, using the superior epigastric artery and vein as nutrient vessels, to create a breast.

    

    

    Latissimus dorsi flap

    The latissimus dorsi muscle with added fat is moved to the chest using the thoracic and dorsal arteries and veins as nutrient vessels to create breasts.

    

    

    Deep inferior epigastric wall perforator flap

    The perforator of the deep inferior epigastric artery and vein is lifted, and the fat and skin are moved to the operated chest, and the vascular anastomosis is performed under a microscope to create the breast.

    

• 2. Timing

  • Primary reconstruction: Reconstruction surgery is performed at the same time as breast cancer removal.

    Secondary reconstruction: Reconstruction surgery is performed after a certain period of time has passed since the removal of breast cancer.

    	1st reconstruction	2nd reconstruction
    Strong Points	No feeling of breast loss Less physical strain	There is plenty of time to think Reconstruction surgery can be performed at a hospital other than the one where the breast cancer surgery was performed.
    Cons	There isn't enough time to think	Increased number of surgeries and costs The surgical site becomes scar tissue that is difficult to stretch

By working closely with the breast surgery team, we are able to fully understand the stage of each patient's disease (cancer status) and select the appropriate reconstruction method and timing. We believe that breast reconstruction is an extension of cancer treatment.
Because the liver is an important organ for women, we provide "team medical care" in which close cooperation takes place within the same hospital, and the team works together to improve the patient's quality of life (QOL).