Imagine going through breast cancer and having surgery to remove a breast. For many women, this is one of the hardest moments of their lives. But thanks to a special law called the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act, women now have better choices for rebuilding their bodies and their confidence.
This important law was passed in 1998. It made sure that, if health insurance helps pay for a mastectomy (removal of the breast), it must also help pay for breast reconstruction and the implant, as well as balancing procedures for the other side and revisions in the future if needed, no matter when a woman decides to have the procedure. This means women have the right to choose the best time for them, even if it’s years after their first surgery.
Today, more than 100,000 women in the United States have breast reconstruction every year. Some women have their implants replaced, others switch from implants to using their own body tissue, and some have new surgeries to fix or improve results.
“Extending access to reconstruction surgery throughout a woman’s lifetime is important because implants are not designed to last forever, and surgical and material advancements are continually improving how we restore shape, feel, and sensation through breast reconstruction,” says Martin Newman, MD, regional head of plastic surgery in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital.
One amazing innovation is called fluorescence-guided surgery. Surgeons use a special laser to see how blood flows in the tissue. This helps them make sure the new breast gets enough blood, which means fewer problems and better results. Dr. Newman was the first surgeon in the world to use this technique, which now helps many women heal faster.
Another major breakthrough is being able to provide sensation to the reconstructed breast. “This technique involves the placement of nerve grafts during reconstruction,” says Dr. Newman. Although many factors contribute to who may be a candidate for this technique, the literature is promising.
More recently, Dr. Newman’s team has employed 3-D technology to create surgical roadmaps of blood vessels for natural tissue reconstruction, both within the patient’s chest and the donor site, such as the abdomen, back, buttock, or thigh. CT scans are used to produce a 3-D image of the blood vessels, which allows for detailed surgical planning and tailoring of the procedure to a patient’s unique anatomy.
“Combining this type of technological innovation with the advanced, less-invasive surgical techniques we use to harvest and transfer blood vessels during perforator flap procedures is another way to support good blood flow and healthy tissue, essential for a positive outcome,” Dr. Newman explains.
Fat transfer is another option that is gaining popularity. Surgeons can take a little fat from the belly or thighs and use it to make the breast look and feel more natural. This process is usually done over a few sessions and helps improve the shape and softness of the breast.
What does all this mean? Women have more choices and better results than ever before. Even women who had surgery years ago can find new hope with today’s technology. Thanks to dedicated doctors and smart laws, life after breast cancer surgery can be full of new possibilities, comfort, and confidence.
