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Dr. Jay K. Harness>>> Let us talk for a minute about reconstruction after a mastectomy.
First of all, the reconstruction can begin as a first-stage procedure at the time of
the mastectomy. For most of us as breast surgeons, we have got a plastic surgeon who will either
operate with us or come in right after we have completed our mastectomy and lymph node
procedures in order to perform the first-stage reconstruction.
Now, that for stage reconstruction could be a flap rotation, such as a TRAM flap or DIEP
flap or whatever, but flap reconstruction can also be done as a second‑stage procedure,
meaning “Gee, what you mean by that Dr. Harness?” Well, what I mean is, if the first
stage as putting in a tissue expander think about it this way, that is a placeholder keeping
the skin from contracting down and therefore as a placeholder, subsequently then down the
road, other tissue can be rotated into the spot. Tissue from the abdomen, the TRAM flap,
the DIEP flap is a good example or from the back of the latissimus flap. Now, often these
other flaps bring skins with them, and frankly, you may or may not need that during the second-stage
reconstruction or you may.
So, the answer to the question is that flap reconstruction can certainly be done as a
second-stage procedure; often frankly it is done after a patient needed radiation therapy.
They have healed up now, a good four or five or up to six months after the completion of
the radiation therapy and now it is time to do the flap rotation and you can do the radiation
therapy with the tissue expander in place, so there is a good example of how one of these
flaps can be done as a second-stage procedure.
Hi, I am Dr. Jay Harness and I want to share with you an important information that I believe
that every newly diagnosed patient with breast cancer needs to know.
Susan Denver: “I am a breast cancer survivor.”
Katherine Stockton: “I am a breast cancer survivor.”
Coree: “I am a breast cancer survivor…”
Susan Denver: “…and I want every woman to know…”
Katherine Stockton: “…about personalized breast cancer treatment…”
Susan Denver: “…and the Genomic Test.”
Coree: “A test that helps guide a woman and her doctor…”
Katherine Stockton: “…to the best treatment options for her.”
Susan Denver: “Pass it on!”