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MICHAEL NAGY MD, FACS
Breast Reconstruction
Conveniently located to serve Toms River, Middletown, Freehold, Colts Neck, and surrounding areas.
Breast Reconstruction
The goal of breast reconstruction is to restore the breast(s) to near normal shape, appearance, symmetry and size following mastectomy, lumpectomy or other trauma. Reconstruction is also a good option for women who lack breasts due to a congenital or developmental abnormality.
At Plastic Surgery for the Face and Body in Wall Township, NJ, Michael Nagy MD, FACS is specifically trained in breast reconstruction, and will be a vital part of your care team as you navigate and explore your reconstruction options. We are proud to offer patients not only our highly experienced surgeons, but individualized care, compassion and commitment in seeing you through the reconstruction process.
Our surgeons have successfully performed hundreds of breast reconstructions and have worked closely with many of the prominent breast surgeons in Monmouth and Ocean County.
Making the decision to undergo breast reconstruction is personal; we strive to make all our cancer patients aware they do have a voice and a choice.
Am I A Good Candidate?
Breast reconstruction is a good option for you if:
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You are able to cope well with your diagnosis and treatment
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You do not have additional medical conditions or other illnesses that may impair healing
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You have a positive outlook and realistic goals for restoring your breast and body image
Matthew Basselini
October 7, 2021
Dr. Nagy is the best at what he does! He has a wonderful bedside manner and was extremely awesome with all of my questions. I’m a little over one week post op and already so incredibly happy with my results. The office is impeccable and beautiful. The staff is friendly and always helpful. Big shout out to Kim, she went above and beyond - from being reassuring, caring, friendly and so so patient with insane amounts of nerves and questions that I had. She’s the best! From consult to post op, they are a phenomenal team that I would highly recommend.
Google rating score:4.7 of 5,
based on 41 reviews
About Your Consultation
Our surgeons will meet with you to fully evaluate and discuss your options. We happily encourage you to ask questions, as the more informed you are, the better we can work together to make the best decision for your treatment. During the consultation you can expect the surgeon to:
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Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
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Examine your breasts, and take measurements of their size and shape, your skin quality and nipple location
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Take photographs for your medical record
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Discuss your reconstruction options and recommend a course of treatment
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Discuss likely outcomes and any risks or potential complications from reconstruction
Types Of Breast Reconstruction
One of the first decisions a patient must make with her plastic surgeon is what type of breast reconstruction she will undergo. Reconstruction is performed on either an immediate or delayed basis and typically falls into two categories: implant reconstruction or reconstruction using a patient’s own tissue, which are commonly referred to as “flap” procedures. There are factors to consider when choosing what type of reconstruction option to pursue, such as the type of mastectomy you are having, cancer treatments and your body type. These types of reconstruction options will be discussed in greater detail below.
Immediate vs. Delayed Reconstruction
The decision regarding when to have breast reconstruction should be made with your plastic surgeon prior to your mastectomy. This is usually based on your risk factors and information provided during your diagnosis and in conjunction with input from other members of your healthcare team.
Immediate reconstruction takes place at the time of the mastectomy, and has become the standard of care for most patients. Again this is not always the case and is made in conjunction with your plastic surgeon, breast surgeon and oncologist depending on what type of treatments you may need.
There are both advantages and disadvantages to immediate breast reconstruction, and these should be taken into consideration.
Delayed reconstruction is sometimes recommended, especially if there is advanced disease, or if you may require radiation as part of your treatment plan.
You may want to delay reconstruction until you have completed all treatments to improve outcomes of your procedure.
Implant Reconstruction
The most common implant reconstruction technique combines skin expansion with implant insertion. First, the surgeon inserts a balloon expander beneath the skin and chest muscle where the reconstructed breast will be located. A saline (salt water) solution is then injected into the expander through a tiny valve beneath the skin over a few weeks or months, eventually filling it and stretching the skin. The expander may then be left in place or replaced with a permanent implant. A final procedure reconstructs the nipple and areola (dark area of skin around the nipple). Some patients do not require tissue expansion and begin immediately with the implant. This is called a direct-to-implant procedure.
Who Is A Good Candidate For Implant Reconstruction?
The ideal candidate for implant reconstruction is a woman who has no available flap options or no desire to have a flap operation, has no history of radiation to the breast or chest wall, is having a prophylactic mastectomy, wants bilateral reconstruction, or desires a surgery on the opposite breast to address an issue or problem with breast symmetry.
Recovery After Implant Surgery
Most patients are tired and sore for a week or two, and recovery can take up to six weeks, but you will be released from the hospital in two to five days. Stitches are taken out in a week to ten days. A surgical drain may be left in place to prevent a build-up of fluid in the reconstructed breast; this will be removed after a week or two.
The reconstructed breast will be numb following surgery, but it is possible that some sensation will return as time passes. Scars will fade, but not disappear. Periodic mammograms with a radiologist trained to examine breasts with implants are recommended.
Risks
Breast reconstruction has not been proven to affect the recurrence of cancer or other diseases, chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
Nevertheless, in addition to the complications possible from any surgical procedure (bleeding, fluid collection, excessive scar tissue, or difficulties with anesthesia), there are some risks inherent in breast reconstruction, including infection around the implant (if an implant is used), and capsular contracture, when the scar (capsule) around the implant tightens, causing the breast to feel hard.
Treatment for capsular contracture varies from “scoring” the scar tissue to removing or replacing the implant. Some patients may need time to come to terms emotionally with their new breasts.
