Breast Reconstruction in IE
Breast Reconstruction in IE section, includes general infrmation about Breast Reconstruction Procedure, Breast Reconstruction IE Local News, Breast Reconstruction IE Surgeon Locator and other Breast Reconstruction related material.
Breast Reconstruction Procedure
This procedure is designed for women who underwent breast amputation after breast cancer or other conditions. Newer techniques allow the surgeon to create a breast which is very similar to the natural one. The reconstruction can be done during the amputation procedure, or a few months or even a year afterwards.
There are a number of implants: the most widely used are silicon implants which have silicon surface and filling. They come in different sizes and shapes.
Becker implants are made of a thick silicon surface (35%-50%) and a solution filling. The advantage of this implant is the ability to adjust its shape to the woman's body. It can also serve as a skin stretcher. There are also implants with a thin silicon surface and a solution filling, which are less used.
The operation can be divided into 2 main categories: (a) a stretcher is inserted, then replaced with an implant; (b) the reconstruction is made from another body tissue.
The most common reconstruction is performed with a stretcher and an implant. After amputation a balloon (stretcher) is inserted under the skin and chest muscles. It has a special valve which can be filled from outside. The implant is being filled gradually with a special solution, until the skin has sufficiently stretched for inserting the implant. It takes another 3-6 months until the breast has acquired its final shape, then the nipple can be reconstructed as well.
Becker implants: sometimes during amputation the skin can be preserved. That would eliminate the need for a stretcher, and a permanent implant (Becker) can be inserted right away.
The breast can also be reconstructed with body tissue from areas with extra skin and fat, like the tummy, buttocks and back. The tissue being removed is called "a flap". Common sites to acquire the flap are the lower tummy and the lotissimus dorsi muscle from the back.
This procedure can be complicated due to implant infection, a contraction of a surface of an implant, silicon leaks and anesthetic complications.
You'll need to stay in hospital 2-7 days after the surgery, while you may feel pain and weakness for a week or two. Complete recovery may take up to 6 weeks, depending on the surgery. You may have an unusual sensation in the breast that would usually disappear over time. In most cases there could be a slight asymmetry between the breasts, however, most women report a significant improvement in their social life and self esteem.
Other Breast Reconstruction Procedures
All Breast Procedures
Breast Reconstruction IE (current)
IE Breast Lift
IE Breast Implants
IE Implant Removal
IE Armpit Incision
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Republic of Ireland By train Most trains in Ireland operate to and from Dublin. Enormous expenditure on modernising the state-owned Irish Rail system is ongoing, including the introduction of many new trains. The frequency and speed of services is being considerably increased, especially on the Dublin-Cork line. If you book on-line for Intercity travel, be aware that there may be a cheaper fare option available to you at the office in the station itself. Not all special rates, e.g. for families, are available on line.
Note that there are two main stations in Dublin - Connolly Station (for trains to Belfast, Sligo and Rosslare) and Heuston Station (for trains to Cork, Limerick, Tralee, Kilarney, Galway, Westport, Kilkenny and Waterford.)
In the Dublin city area the electrified DART coastal railway travels from Malahide and the Howth peninsula in the North to Bray and Greystones in Co. Wicklow via Dun Laoghaire and Dublin city center. An interchange with main line services and the Luas Red line is available at Dublin Connolly.
Republic of Ireland By tram Dublin has a tram system, known as Luas (the Irish word for speed.) There are two lines. One operates from Dublin city centre (Connolly Station) to a large suburb south-west of the City (Tallaght); and the other south-east (to Sandyford) from St Stephen's Green. Tickets must be puchased from machines before boarding the tram. Tickets are checked in the Luas at random by guards but generally ticketing works on a trust system thus free rides are possible.
The Luas tram provides a very useful link between Dublin's Connolly and Heuston railway stations.
Plastic Surgery News...
- The Bush administration is planning to propose legislation that would address excess spending in Medicare and go beyond the "trigger" provision in the 2003 Medicare law to health care in general, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said at a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Wednesday, CQ HealthBeat reports (Reichard, CQ HealthBeat, 2/13).
- A systematic review and meta-analysis published early online in the Lancet Oncology has concluded that patients taking sorafenib have a statistically significant risk of developing hypertension.
Researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 9 clinical trials in which a total of 4599 cancer patients (renal cell carcinoma or other solid tumours) had been randomised to receive sorafenib 400mg twice daily, and the incidence of hypertension was reported in the safety data.
The following results were reported:
• Sorafenib was associated with a statistically significantly increased risk of all-grade hypertension in patients with cancer, with a relative risk RR of 6.11 (2.44–15.32], p<0.001) compared with controls.
• For patients assigned sorafenib, the overall incidence of all-grade and high-grade (i.e. grade 3 or 4) hypertension were 23.4% (95% CI 16.0–32.9%) and 5.7% (2.5–12.6%), respectively.
• No significant difference was noted between patients with RCC or a non-RCC malignancy (all grade: RR 1.03 [95% CI 0.73–1.45], p=0.89; high-grade: RR 1.23 [0.76–1.99], p=0.40) who were assigned sorafenib.
The authors also conclude that appropriate monitoring of patients taking sorafenib is strongly recommended to prevent cardiovascular complications.
[Absolute risk figures were not available in the abstract]