Breast Reconstruction

If possible, the best time to make your appointment with a Specialist Plastic Surgeon is before a mastectomy. Dependent on your age and state of health, you may require several pre-operative tests to determine your suitability for surgery.

In some cases, the breast reconstruction may be performed in conjunction with a mastectomy operation, although this is only advisable if the reconstruction will not interfere with any subsequent breast treatments. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will recommend the most suitable option for you.

If you have already had a mastectomy, it is not too late to consider breast reconstruction surgery. Contact us to request a consultation with our Specialist Plastic Surgeons that perform breast reconstruction surgery who will discuss your situation and the options available for you.

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure to recreate the breast following a mastectomy. The aim is to create a shape that resembles a natural breast in appearance and form. Breast reconstruction can be performed using breast implants, your own body tissue, or a combination of both. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon at Assure Cosmetic Centre will recommend the most suitable option for you.

The decision to have breast reconstruction surgery is naturally a very personal and emotive one. To assist with your decision making, you may like to talk with someone who has had the procedure. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will happily introduce you to a suitable past patient.

Our Perth Specialist Plastic Surgeon use various modern techniques for breast reconstruction surgery. All typically involve the provision of more skin (since, in most cases, the Breast Surgeon performing the mastectomy usually removes the large fold of skin covering the breast), as well as more bulk to produce the best shape and texture.

Some techniques involve the use of breast implants that contain silicone. Saline-filled implants can also be used, but cannot be considered a permanent replacement as there is a small possibility they may deflate within 10 years. At Assure, we only use safe, silicone gel implants. Our implant supplier is one of the world’s leading implant manufacturers, Mentor (Johnson & Johnson), credited with very high safety and quality standards.

Breast reconstructions using implants do not look or feel as natural as your own body tissue and have a greater long-term complication rate. For that reason, using a patient’s own natural fat and skin tissue has become a preferred breast reconstruction technique. However, this method requires a longer period under anaesthetic, a longer hospital stay and can require a longer period away from work.

The choice of technique will depend on many factors, including age, state of health, size and shape of the opposite breast, sufficiency of loose abdominal skin, and so on. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will discuss this and recommend the technique that is best for you.

Click here for more detailed information about plastic surgery for breast reconstruction in Perth.

All plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures come with risks and potential complications. To ensure successful surgery, it is crucial to understand and minimise these risks. Whilst all measures are taken to mitigate risks, some risks are unavoidable.

All information on this page is general in nature – your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will discuss the specific risks and complications pertinent to your individual surgical procedure during your consultation. General risks for surgery are listed here.

Specific risks related to breast reconstruction surgery include, but are not limited to bleeding, infection, severe scarring, loss of circulation in the flap, loss of feeling in the arm or hand, and drug and anaesthetic reactions varying in severity to (very rarely indeed) the point of death.

Complications that may arise from microsurgical or pedicled own tissue reconstructions, like the TRAM flap, include certain risks. These potential issues include an abdominal hernia (approximately 2%), small areas of hardness known as fat necrosis in the new breast that might require later removal, and the possibility of asymmetry with the other breast. In some cases, a small part of the flap’s edge may have insufficient blood supply and need surgical removal within a couple of weeks after the initial operation.

Your surgeon will provide a more detailed explanation of possible complications, but it’s important to emphasise that severe complications are very uncommon. In microsurgical procedures, the most commonly encountered condition is thrombosis (clots) in the leg veins. While precautions are taken to prevent this, around 5% of patients may experience it nonetheless. In rare instances, these clots may travel to the lungs, which can be serious. If you have a history of leg vein clots or varicose veins, it is essential to inform your surgeon.

Patients undergoing implant reconstructions may encounter complications such as hardening and pain in the reconstructed breast, attributed to capsular contracture, which often requires further surgery. An infected implant might also necessitate additional surgery and typically requires removal to control the infection. Although traumatic ruptures of implants are possible, it usually requires significant force to rupture an implant in good condition. It’s important to recognise that implants gradually deteriorate over time and are not considered lifetime devices, as many patients may need to replace them at least once during their lifetime.

Please note that self-funded (uninsured) private patients should be aware that in the event of complications, significant extra costs may be incurred, particularly in private hospitals.

Please note that the recovery process after a breast reconstruction may vary for each individual. While most patients can expect to resume their normal routine within 2-3 weeks, it is important to consider certain factors and follow personalised advice from your surgeon. It is recommended to wait a little longer before engaging in strenuous exercise to ensure optimal healing.

The timing of returning to work or regular activities should be determined based on your specific circumstances and the guidance provided by your Specialist Plastic Surgeon. To support the healing process and minimise swelling, you will be required to wear post-surgical compression garments for approximately six weeks.

It is crucial to understand that every patient’s recovery requires sufficient time, support, and appropriate postoperative care. Healing abilities and pain tolerance may vary among individuals, leading to differences in the duration of recovery and the ability to participate in various activities. For accurate information about your recovery and expectations, we strongly advise consulting your Specialist Plastic Surgeon who can provide personalised guidance.

An initial consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will cost approximately $250, which is payable in full at the time of booking your consultation. Your consultation will take approximately 30-60 minutes. If a Medicare item applies to your potential procedure then you will be entitled to a rebate from Medicare of approximately $80, providing you have a written referral from your GP or specialist. GP referrals are valid for 12 months and specialist referrals for 3 months.

Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will provide an indication of the likely costs, such as your surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fees and hospital and theatre fees. Your surgeon’s fee includes all post-operative care and nurse dressings. Pricing will vary from case to case, but an indicative range of your surgeon’s fee is $5,000 to $9,000. Anaesthetist, hospital and theatre fees are additional.

Breast reconstruction surgery is not an elective procedure and there are Medicare and private health insurance rebates available. Your surgeon can provide you with more information, but you would then need to talk to your private health insurer to determine exactly how much cover they will provide and confirm what your final out-of-pocket costs will be.

A good starting point is to book a consultation with one of our experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeons at Assure Cosmetic Centre. You will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask questions. You will be provided with detailed information regarding the treatments or procedures that can help you, the expected outcomes, and the costs involved. Click here to make an appointment.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website is a helpful and reliable source of information online. Their website is an excellent place to research a range of surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments, and view video animations.

Utilising a search engine can also be beneficial in finding relevant information on these topics.

For patients seeking breast augmentation, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) breast implant hub also has several documents regarding breast implants, covering various subjects such as Breast Implant Associated-Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), consumer inquiries, and related matters.