Breast Reconstruction Before & After Photos

This 60 year-old woman decided that she wanted to undergo immediate reconstructive surgery on her breasts at the time of her left mastectomy. She wanted to maintain a feminine look that would help enhance her confidence and body image. When she discussed her Irvine breast surgery options, with Dr. Smith, he recommended tissue expansion as the best way to create the results she desired

Dr. Smith performs the tissue expansion by placing temporary, adjustable tissue expander below the pectoral muscle in order to stretch out the tissues that remained after mastectomy. This process slowly creates a pocket that will later hold the real breast implant. The tissue expander isn't a permanent device, and it does take some time for it to be expanded fully, but the slower speed helps prevent stretch marks from developing and Dr. Smith does offer some techniques to help speed up the process. For this woman he placed the tissue expander during the time of surgery so she could start the process immediately and have her follow-up procedure within months. Both the initial surgery and the follow-up procedure to replace the expander with an implant went very well.

She had a very good recovery and achieved the results that she desired. Although tissue expansion surgery requires a longer time frame than "flap" type procedures, it typically allows for an easier recovery. In the "after" photos, this patient's breasts match nicely, and while she chose to go with a smaller-size implant, the results flatter her body very nicely and she is very satisfied with her Newport Beach area breast surgery results.

Patient Age: 60
Patient Gender: Female