Delayed Reconstruction

Delayed breast reconstruction is performed any time after treatments for breast cancer have been completed. Such surgery can be completed successfully in virtually all cases, regardless of prior history. Dr. Sullivan is happy to consult with breast cancer patients who are seeking an improvement in their appearance.

Skin expansion is the most common technique for breast reconstruction, since the remaining breast tissue may not be large enough to support the desired breast size. After the mastectomy, a balloon expander is inserted beneath the skin and chest muscle. During subsequent office visits over several weeks, a salt-water solution is injected through a small valve buried under the skin, gradually filling the expander and stretching the breast. Once the skin is sufficiently stretched, a permanent implant is generally inserted in a subsequent operation and the expander removed; although some expanders are designed to be left in place as the final implant.

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