Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gregory Dumanian has helped many women to achieve their desired body proportions after the medical removal of one or both breasts. One of the simplest ways to accomplish this is with a tissue expander and implants. Here, Dr. Dumanian explains why tissue expanders are beneficial to the process.
How Tissue Expanders Work
Most women who opt to have breast construction do so with the help of breast implants. In some cases, there may be enough tissue left on the chest to accommodate the preferred size of the breast. Usually, however, there is insufficient space to hold the new saline or silicone implants. That’s where the tissue expander comes in.
Essentially, a tissue expander is an empty or flat implant. Because it is so small, it can be surgically inserted (either under or over the large pectoral muscle) and covered with the remaining breast skin that was not removed at the time of the mastectomy. This procedure can be performed by Dr. Dumanian on the same day as a mastectomy, or it can be performed later at a date of the patient’s choosing.
The tissue expander includes a valve that can be palpated under the skin and accessed with a small needle. Over the course of several weekly appointments, a doctor gradually adds saline water through the valve to the expander so that it increases in size — like a balloon. This stretches the breast tissue and skin to prepare it for a real breast implant. This must be done incrementally to avoid creating excessive discomfort.
Once the tissue has expanded large enough that the breast can accommodate a normal breast implant, Dr. Dumanian can remove the tissue expander and replace it with the implant through the same incision point to minimize scarring. This tends to be a straightforward one-hour outpatient procedure.
Who Should Consider a Tissue Expander?
The decision to reconstruct breasts after a mastectomy/double mastectomy is the patient’s own choice: not all women desire to replace their breasts. Those who do want to reconstruct their breasts with aid from a tissue expander generally have a slighter figure with smaller breasts. They also need to be able to commit to weekly expander filling sessions to make space for the implants.
Fortunately, a tissue expander is not the only option. Women who have a larger frame and want larger breasts to better correspond with the proportions of their body may be better suited by a DIEP/TRAM flap surgery that borrows excess tissue from the abdomen to recreate the breast.
Discuss All Reconstruction Options with Dr. Dumanian
As his before-and-after gallery demonstrates, Dr. Dumanian has helped many women who have had mastectomy to feel whole again. To receive the highest quality results from one of Chicago’s most respected surgeons, schedule a consultation at Northwestern Plastic Surgery by calling 312-695-6022.