Breast Reconstruction in Harrisburg, PA

At Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery of Central Pennsylvania in Camp Hill, PA, Dr. Theodore T. Foley performs breast reconstruction to re-create the size, shape, and contour of the breast(s) for a natural, normal appearance. This procedure is often performed for women who have undergone a mastectomy to have their breast(s) removed during breast cancer treatment, which is why is sometimes called post-mastectomy breast surgery. Breast reconstruction surgery can also be used to help women whose breasts have been damaged or altered during a trauma or accident. The goals of breast reconstruction surgery is to re-build the breast(s) to restore a woman's shape after breast cancer or a trauma. At Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery of Central Pennsylvania, board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Foley will create a personalized treatment plan to restore your breasts to a better appearance and help complete your physical and emotional healing.

Breast reconstruction surgery is common to restore one or both breasts after:

• A mastectomy or lumpectomy
• A traumatic injury that damaged the breast tissue
• Congenital/birth defects such as tubular or unsymmetrical breasts
• Extreme weight loss

There are 3 common breast reconstruction techniques:

• Transferring skin, muscle, and fat tissue from other areas to the breast
• Using a tissue expander to create space and then placing an implant
• A combination of implant and natural tissue enhancements

You may also need nipple reconstruction, breast augmentation, a breast lift, breast reduction, or a combination of these surgeries to enhance symmetry to provide the best aesthetic results. If only one breast is being reconstructed, the surgeon will try to match the reconstructed breast to your natural breast.

During breast reconstruction, advanced techniques are utilized to reconstruct nipples that have been removed because of a mastectomy or are malformed or damaged due to trauma. Grafting is a common method that is used to restore the size, shape, and position of the nipples and areola. However, skin flapping is a more modern method used to restore nipples and creates a natural shape and appearance. Your surgeon can discuss the various techniques in detail during your consultation to determine which option will produce the best results.

To create a tissue flap, the surgeon will remove a section of skin, fat, and muscle from one area of the body to move it to the breast. Tissue may be taken from the abdomen, upper back, or buttocks. Surgeons may also use a tissue expander to gradually enlarge and open space for an implant. When the skin has been stretched to the needed size, the expander will be removed and replaced with either a silicone or saline implant.

The Women's Health and Cancer Act (WHCA) was signed into federal law in 1998 and requires that health insurance companies cover breast reconstruction surgery after breast cancer. For more information on this law and breast cancer, please visit www.cancer.org.

We understand that losing the breasts as a result of a cancer or an accident can result in lowered self-esteem, but having a breast reconstruction surgery may help your physical and emotional recovery. Please contact our office to schedule your consultation and learn about your breast reconstruction options.

The cost of Breast Reconstruction is insurance based and we encourage you to call our office for more details. If you are comparing prices between different plastic surgery practices, make sure you are comparing the fees which include all aspects of your upcoming surgery. These prices include the physician, anesthesia, and facility fees assuming that your surgery is being completed in a surgery center. If your surgery needs to be performed at the hospital, the fees will be ~$1500-$2000 more depending on the procedure, the surgical time, and whether or not you choose to stay overnight at the hospital. Also, your best choice for a cosmetic procedure of any kind is to choose a plastic surgeon, such as Dr. Theodore Foley, who is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and who is local to you. Not only will you receive the best surgical care that way, but you will also receive the best postoperative care. At Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery of Central PA, we encourage patients to call for a complimentary personal consultation with our plastic surgeon so a customized quote can be prepared for you by our staff. For more information on payment options at our practice, check out our Payment Information page by clicking here.