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Real Breast Reconstruction
Dr. Lisa Cassileth has developed Real Breast Reconstruction -- an innovative new technique for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. It is the next evolution in the current standard of care for breast reconstruction.

In the Past
Many years ago, when a mastectomy was performed in order to treat breast cancer, no reconstruction was performed. It was not an option.

And not long ago, once reconstruction had finally become widely available, plastic surgeons would not perform reconstruction until years after the mastectomy.

We are fortunate that there are now several options for reconstruction, at or near the time of mastectomy.

The Standard of Care
Most plastic surgeons place tissue expanders at the time of mastectomy to strech the chest muscles and make room for breast implants. The expanders are then expanded using saline injections over several months. Once the expanders are fully expanded to the desired size, in a second surgery they are removed and replaced with breast implants.

Despite the advancement of breast reconstruction, many women still find that breast reconstruction after mastectomy is one of the most demoralizing, difficult, and disappointing parts of breast cancer treatment. It has meant months of painful expander expansion, and the second surgery to swap the expanders for permanent implants. And after two surgeries (and not to mention dealing with the battle to destroy the cancer), patients are left with reconstructed breasts disfigured by large, unsightly scars.

Now there is a better alternative.

The Real Breast Reconstruction Technique
It starts with a mastectomy performed through a very small incision rather than the large across-the-breast slash that has been the norm. Dr. Cassileth then places an implant (Immediate Implant Reconstruction) or flap (Immediate DIEP Flap Reconstruction) to recreate the fullness of the breast. Using her revolutionary Internal Bra technique, she provides a support structure that mimics that of the natural breast. The process creates a breast that is natural-looking, all in the same surgery as the mastectomy. The patient awakens from surgery with an intact breast, and only a tiny scar.

Getting the right kind of mastectomy is critical. Best results are acheived with either a skin-sparing mastectomy (where the breast skin is not removed but the nipple and areola are removed) or a nipple/areolar-sparing mastectomy (where the breast skin, the nipple, and the areola are not removed). Our team of specialists, based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, performs these types of mastectomy. Click to learn more about Getting the Right Mastectomy.
Cassileth Plastic Surgery
436 N Bedford Dr Ste 103 | Beverly Hills, CA 90210 | 310.278.8200 | [email protected]