Premier breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Dennis Holmes, with locations in Santa Monica, Glendale, and Los Angeles, California, works with the area’s leading plastic surgeons to plan breast reconstruction, either using the patient’s natural tissues or saline or silicone implants.
The goal of breast reconstruction is to recreate the shape and form of the breast after mastectomy. This may be accomplished using a breast implant or natural tissues like tissue “flaps”—fat and/or muscle taken from another part the body. Breast reconstruction is performed by a plastic surgeon. Dr. Holmes works with experienced plastic surgeons to plan the most suitable type of breast reconstruction for each woman. In most cases, breast reconstruction can be started, and often even completed, at the time of the mastectomy. This is known as an “immediate reconstruction. In some cases, reconstruction must be performed at a later day, an approach known as delayed reconstruction. The appropriate type and timing of reconstruction are an individual decision, based on the patient’s body size, the amount of preserved breast skin, overall physical health, cancer stage, and desired breast size. Since mastectomy removes most of the nerves of the breast, the skin of the reconstructed breast generally has little or no sensation.
Tissue flap reconstruction uses muscle and/or fat from other parts of the body to create a natural-looking and naturally feeling breast. Various tissue flap reconstruction options exist. The most common tissue flap reconstructions are:
Saline and silicone implant reconstruction are widely used today for women who do not desire or do not have enough spare tissue for tissue flap reconstruction. Depending on personal circumstances and preference, the implant may be placed on top of the pectoralis major chest muscle (called “pre-pectoral”) or underneath the pectoralis major muscle (called “sub-pectoral”). When placement behind the muscle is required, the plastic surgeon might first insert a temporary, empty implant called a “tissue expander” that is injected with saline over several weeks until the overlying skin and muscle have been adequately expanded to accommodate a full-size saline or silicone implant. The need for a tissue expander and the time it takes to fill the tissue expander is determined by the final breast size desired by the patient. A tissue expander might also be inserted when radiation is planned after mastectomy or as a temporary means of supporting the skin when a delayed tissue flap reconstruction is planned.
The need for prophylactic mastectomy is greatest is women diagnosed with a hereditary breast cancer mutation, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, due to a high lifetime risk of cancer in both breasts. Women with breast cancer may choose prophylactic mastectomy of the opposite (contralateral), unaffected breast to maintain breast symmetry, to eliminate the need for annual mammograms, or due to anxiety about the future risk of cancer in the opposite breast. However, contrary to popular belief, the risk of cancer in the opposite breast is generally relatively low--less than 5% over the next 20 years. You can calculate your personal risk of contralateral breast cancer (CBC) by visiting the following link: https://cbc-predictor-utd.shinyapps.io/CBCRisk. Contralateral mastectomy is usually covered by insurance.
"He treated my daughter who had stage one breast cancer. He put us at ease and calmed our fears , he was the perfect surgeon for our situation."
"He has to be one of the most incredible doctor that I've been blessed to have on my survival team. He's saved my life! I'm a proud 28 yr B C survivor."
"Dr. Holmes is kind, professional, and has a lot of patience answering every question you might have."
"Great and SMART staff. Great place with ZERO infection rate. I was back to work after surgery way sooner then expected! Awesome place great center."
