About Breast Reconstruction Surgery
At Dr James Fernau, Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa in Pittsburgh, PA; Breast Reconstruction is a procedure designed for women who have lost a whole breast (mastectomy) or a partial breast (lumpectomy) to cancer. Some breast reconstruction is performed for women that have lost one or both breasts to injury or some other illness or condition. Breast reconstruction surgery is a procedure that aims to match an affected breast as closely as possible to the remaining natural breast. Breast reconstruction can often restore a woman’s self-image and confidence after such a significant loss.
Typical breast reconstruction is achieved through a variety of plastic surgery techniques that endeavor to restore breasts to a normal shape and size. Breast reconstruction may be performed at the time of a mastectomy procedure or well after the patient has recovered from treatment.
Note: When only one breast is affected, a breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation procedure may be recommended for the neighboring breast to improve the symmetry, size and position of both breasts in the final outcome.
Who May Benefit from Breast Reconstruction
Women in relatively good physical condition, who have lost all or part of a breast to cancer, injury or other illnesses, may benefit from a breast reconstruction procedure.
A breast reconstruction is often sought to address the following:
• A breast lost to cancer.
• A breast lost to another illness.
• A breast that suffered from another form of injury.
Recovery Periods for Breast Reconstruction
Recovery times for Breast Reconstruction surgery vary from patient to patient. All patients receive pre-operative packets and post-operative care instructions for their surgical procedure. To improve your recovery period and minimize any post-operative complications, it is important to fully disclose your medical history with Dr. Fernau during your initial consultation. It is also important for you to discuss any use of medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, and recreational substances. Dr. Fernau may wish to also discuss your physical health and any personal expectations or concerns you may have prior to your procedure.
After Breast Reconstruction surgery, patients can expect an initial post-surgical recovery period of several weeks. You will also require a reduced-activity period for this time. During recovery, you will likely experience soreness and swelling. It is normal for these conditions to last for a few weeks. By following Dr. Fernau’s post-operative care instructions, you can mitigate post-operative complications and speed up your healing process.
Note: As part of the recovery process, Dr. Fernau offers four weeks of complimentary post-operative laser treatments until the scars are invisible.
Special instructions related to your individual procedure, regarding rest, special garments, returning to your place of business (or normal daily activity), sports or other physical activities, and exposure to sunlight and outdoor elements will be provided to you by Dr. Fernau.
For your convenience, Dr. Fernau is available at any time and can even be reached after hours. Each patient is given his personal cell phone number for any questions.
Benefits and Additions
Many patients of Pittsburgh Plastic Surgery and Dr. James Fernau who have received Breast Reconstruction have also benefited from Liposuction and Tummy Tuck procedures. To learn more about these additional procedures, visit our Pittsburgh Plastic Surgery Liposuction and Tummy Tuck pages and see some of the amazing results achieved by Dr. Fernau’s patients.
When you consider cosmetic surgery in Pittsburgh, think of Dr. James Fernau and the Pittsburgh Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Medical Spa.
Learn More About Breast Reconstruction
For more information about Breast Reconstruction and other cosmetic surgery procedures, we invite you to call us at (412) 446-0391 – Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm – to schedule an appointment. You may also use the Contact Form page to send us a message.
