Northwestern Specialists in Plastic Surgery is dedicated to helping breast reconstruction patients who have had failed or “botched” attempts at reconstruction in the past. We acknowledge that breast reconstruction can be a challenging journey, and we are here to help if you have experienced a disappointing outcome.
Poor outcomes can be related to anatomy, surgeon experience, or the influence of additional treatments, especially radiation therapy.
With over 40 years of combined experience in breast reconstruction, our surgeons offer advanced microsurgical techniques and fine attention to aesthetic detail that can dramatically improve even the most disappointing breast reconstruction outcomes. Take a look at some of our breast reconstruction before and after photos to see some of the amazing results we’ve helped our patients achieve.
Corrective breast construction can be used in a variety of cases including:
Failed tissue flaps
Botched breast implants
Botched Diep flaps
Implant rupture
Imbalanced results
Capsular contracture
Scarred tissue
Unnatural shaping
Breast reconstruction repair can also be utilized if you are simply unhappy with the results of your reconstruction procedure, or you feel you received bad breast augmentation surgery. We understand how important the journey to breast reconstruction is. Even small irregularities can affect your body image and self-confidence.
There are many benefits to receiving corrective breast reconstruction surgery. Repairing your breasts can help ease some of the feelings of injury and loss after breast cancer. Even a minor corrective surgery can bring about a sense of healing and contentedness for many people.
In addition to cosmetic benefits, corrective breast reconstructive surgery also has the ability to reduce chronic pain that is sometimes associated with a failed breast procedure.
We don’t expect our patients to know exactly what they need from corrective breast reconstruction surgery. Simply schedule a consultation with one of our specialists, and we’ll explain which reconstruction techniques we think will be most beneficial for you.
Next, we’ll discuss your goals for surgery so we can ensure we choose the implants and surgical techniques that will most closely match your expectations.
We’ll also carefully review your medical history to ensure that corrective surgery is a safe option for you. It’s our goal to be as transparent as possible about what to expect so you can feel confident moving forward with treatment.
Your doctor will likely ask you to stop taking blood thinners and similar medications a couple of weeks before your procedure. If you smoke, you will also be asked to stop smoking 4 to 6 weeks beforehand.
You’ll need to plan to take a few days off of work, and have someone to drive you home from surgery and stay with you during your first night home.
When you arrive for your surgery, you’ll be taken into the preoperative area. From here, you’ll put on your hospital gown, and one of our specialists will start your IV with any necessary fluids or medications for surgery.
At Northwestern, we use anesthesia during corrective breast surgery, meaning you’ll be asleep for the entire procedure. Once you’re fully asleep, we’ll follow your individualized plans for reconstruction. All of the specifics of your surgery, including implant types, implant placement, and incision techniques, will be discussed with you before your surgery. In total, the surgery typically takes between 2 and 3 hours.
In many cases, you’ll be able to return home the same day as your corrective surgery. You will need to take several days off to rest before returning to your daily routines. Although you can return to work within a week or two, you should avoid heavy lifting for at least 4-6 weeks.
Experiencing mild soreness and tiredness is common, and will subside with time. If necessary, your doctor can prescribe you medication to help with the pain. Some patients also receive a pain pump for the days following surgery to deliver localized pain medication.
In most cases, we will recommend you wear a loose-fitting, underwire-free sports bra for at least 4-6 weeks after surgery. Once the swelling in your breasts subsides, you can return to wearing your normal apparel.
The breast reconstruction journey is not always an easy one. Experiencing suboptimal or “botched” outcomes can leave patients feeling scarred. It can also be a constant reminder of the difficult aspects of their experiences with breast cancer. We are here to help.
Beyond surgery alone, we strive to treat the whole patient, offering many state-of-the-art medical-grade spa services that can reduce the appearance of scarring, improve skin texture and quality, and revitalize you after breast cancer treatment.