Less than one in five
women who have a mastectomy because of breast cancer, will even have
reconstructive surgery. Little Rock plastic surgeons Melanie Prince and Michael
Spann believe it's because many women don't know their options.
"I think it's education.
That's the importance of getting the word out there. Educate women that they
actually have a choice in breast reconstruction if they decide to have it, and
then what type they'd decide to have," Dr. Prince said.
The latest reconstruction
technique is called the deep inferior epigastric perforator flap. Surgeons take
tissue from a patient's abdomen in a procedure similar to a tummy tuck, and
move it to the breast.
Diana Foster of Little
Rock is one of the few Arkansans who has undergone the surgery, following a
double mastectomy last year.
"I liked the fact that I
could use my own tissue. I felt more comfortable in that regard," said Foster.
Using a woman's own tissue
has its advantages over implants.
"No matter how good we
make those implants, they never feel like your body's own tissue and they're
not lifelong devices," Dr. Spann said.
Diana had the 16 hour
surgery last month and has no regrets. "Very pleased," she said. "It gave me
back the confidence. It just made me feel better about myself."
"It's a very individual choice.
It's a very intimate choice. It's something that you should take long
consideration with, talk to your doctors about. Talk to your breast surgeon
that did the mastectomy and then find a surgeon you're comfortable with," Dr. Spann said.
As with any surgery, there are some risks
including weakness in the muscle, and risk of injury to the internal organs.
Dr. Spann recommends a breast cancer patient should visit with a plastic
surgeon before having a mastectomy to know their reconstructive options.
