Mastectomy Surgery Monmouth County

Mastectomy Surgeon Monmouth County, Jersey Shore, and West Long Branch NJ

Many women battling breast cancer or who are at a high risk of getting this serious illness will need a mastectomy. This surgical procedure – which involves removal of breast tissue – is important to help remove cancerous cells and prevent the spread of this disease. Monmouth County plastic surgeon Dr. Rahul Vemula understands the difficulty of dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis and is passionate about helping patients get their lives back on track.

Dr. Vemula is a leading expert who offers highly individualized mastectomy and breast reconstruction procedures. The surgeon and his team at V Plastic Surgery work carefully to achieve the needs of each patient. Dr. Vemula has extensive experience working with breast cancer patients and goes above and beyond to deliver a successful, compassionate treatment. Through his expertise in mastectomy surgery and subsequent breast reconstruction, Dr. Rahul Vemula has helped countless breast cancer survivors in Monmouth County, Jersey Shore, West Long Branch, and surrounding New Jersey areas.

Mastectomy vs Lumpectomy

Depending on your specific situation, your surgeon may recommend you either have a mastectomy or breast conserving surgery (lumpectomy). While a mastectomy involves removal of one or both breasts, a lumpectomy will just focus on removing the cancer along with the surrounding border of normal breast tissue. A lumpectomy is typically the gold standard treatment for early-stage breast cancers where the tumor is small and confined to a small part of the breast, and there’s enough tissue available to reshape the remaining breast. Women who have a lumpectomy can have radiation therapy.

You most likely might need a mastectomy if you:

• Have a large breast cancer lump (tumor) particularly in a small breast.
• Have multiple areas of cancer in your breast.
• Have large areas of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).
• This is a non-invasive, early state breast cancer that occurs when abnormal cells develop in the mild ducts of the breast.
• Are pregnant or are unable to have radiotherapy.
• Have previously had radiotherapy to the chest wall.
• Have health conditions that make it hard for you to cope with the side effects of radiotherapy (e.g. connective tissue disease or pulmonary fibrosis).
• Have inflammatory breast cancer, which is a rare and aggressive type of breast cancer that affects the breast’s skin.
• Have male breast cancer.
• Carry a very high risk of getting breast cancer as a result of gene mutation or family history.
• Already had a lumpectomy but cancer cells are found at the edges of the tissues, cancer is spreading to other areas, or if a tumor has recurred in the same breast.

The Mastectomy Surgery Procedure

Breast cancer patients need a series of pre-operative evaluations before undergoing a mastectomy. Your surgeon will review your medical history and perform a physical exam to discuss your treatment options. Imaging tests such as mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs will be used to assess the extent of your cancer. Once you are ready for the surgery, Dr. Vemula’s anesthesiologist will sedate you to ensure your comfort and safety. The surgeon will then create incisions in the breast tissue depending on the type of mastectomy being performed. Breast tissue – and sometimes also lymph nodes – are removed before the incisions are closed using sutures. The entire procedure takes 2 – 4 hours to complete. While most patients can return home the same day, some will need to stay overnight for up to 23 hours for further observation.

Recovery Experience after Mastectomy Surgery

Mastectomy patients will typically expect to feel pain, numbness, tingling, and swelling after mastectomy surgery. Pain medication is usually administered to alleviate the discomfort. Drains may be inserted to drain blood and fluids from the treatment areas. These need to be emptied every 8 hours with the patient tracking how much fluid came out. You should get plenty of rest to allow your body to heal after mastectomy surgery. Focus on a well-balanced diet and avoid lifting anything heavy to protect your wounds. It’s also important that patients observe their emotional help and reach out to friends, family, or your breast care nurse about how you feel. The recovery process after a mastectomy takes 2 – 6 weeks depending on the specifics of your procedure. Dr. Vemula’s office at V Plastic Surgery Monmouth County will provide all the support and hand-holding you need to ensure a smooth and prompt recovery.

Single vs Double Mastectomy Surgery

A single mastectomy – also referred to as a unilateral mastectomy – will focus on removing one breast. A double mastectomy – or bilateral mastectomy – is a procedure to remove breast tissue from both breasts. Breast surgeons will most commonly recommend a double mastectomy in cases where cancer is found in both breasts and where the risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast is also very high. Some other factors that may affect the decision between a unilateral vs a bilateral mastectomy include the cancer stage and type, personal risk factors, overall health, family history, genetic risk factors, as well as personal comfort and peace of mind.

Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

Many women who have a mastectomy surgery opt to have the breast rebuilt. This is referred to as breast reconstruction and may be done using either implants (implant breast reconstruction) or natural breast tissue (autologous breast reconstruction). Implant based reconstruction is the most common method. It uses either saline or silicone implants to rebuild the breast tissue. Autologous reconstruction uses tissue flaps from the patient’s own body to reconstruct the breast. This is an advanced technique that needs to be performed by a plastic surgeon with expert microsurgical skills. Dr. Vemula is a highly skilled breast reconstruction expert who specializes in both implant reconstruction and autologous techniques like the PAP Flap and DIEP Flap.

Immediate vs Delayed Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction may be performed immediately after a mastectomy or delayed until after the mastectomy incisions have healed. The decision whether to have an immediate or delayed mastectomy depends on a number of factors such as breast cancer stage, medical condition, personal preference, and the need for additional therapy such as radiation. Some of the advantages of immediate breast reconstruction include reduce psychological impact and a shorter overall recovery time. Delayed breast reconstruction is usually selected when the patient has certain health conditions or when there are complications.

Nipple and Areola Reconstruction

Most patients will choose to have nipple and areola reconstruction after breast reconstruction. The goal of this procedure is to rebuild the nipple and areola using skin grafting and/or tattooing. This helps restore a breast appearance that resembles the original look and anatomy. Nipple and areola reconstruction is typically performed as an outpatient procedure about 3 – 4 months after the original breast reconstruction surgery.

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