What Does Perforator Flap Reconstruction Entail? – Timeline and Recovery
The breast reconstruction patient is involved in a process that may involve other surgeries and/or breast cancer treatments. Therefore the timeline may vary depending on the nature of the patient’s individual situation. Below is a general overview of a typical timeline related to the breast reconstruction.
STEP 1: INITIAL SURGERY
Women seeking prophylactic mastectomy will typically undergo mastectomy and breast reconstruction at the same time (simultaneous). If both breasts are being reconstructed along with the mastectomies, the procedure will take around 6 hours, depending on which reconstructive procedure is being done. The patient is in the hospital 4-5 days for recovery and to monitor blood flow to the transferred tissue. After discharge the patient will typically be able to shower, walk up and down stairs, and generally recover with minimal requirement for help or pain medication. Patients are asked to refrain from heavy lifting and rigorous activity for one month. After one month there are no restrictions. If the patient is being treated for cancer, there may be other issues affecting the timeline, like chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
STEP 2:
After recovery there will typically be one more small surgery either to reconstruct nipples, refine or revise the breast reconstruction, and/or refine or revise the donor site. This surgery is usually about 3 months after the breast reconstruction.
STEP 3:
Patients having nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) will not require nipple reconstruction, but may require minor revision surgery weeks or months after breast reconstruction. Patients who have had skin sparing mastectomy (SSM) will be offered nipple reconstruction at about three months after breast reconstruction. A reconstructed nipple is typically tattooed about 6 weeks after nipple reconstruction.
Dr. Joshua L. Levine, MD FACS
World Leading Authority in Perforator Flap Breast Reconstruction
Based in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut
Dr. Joshua Levine is a world-renowned perforator flap breast reconstruction surgeon. Meaning, all of his breast reconstruction procedures, are muscle-sparing, using only your own natural tissue to restore your breast(s). He operates out of top cutting-edge and award-winning hospital facilities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, alongside a hand-selected surgical team that matches his expertise. He’s been pioneering advancements in the field of perforator flap breast reconstruction since the beginning of his career in 2004, and has completed over 1,700 successful reconstruction procedures.
Nelly K.
Dr. Levine Has restored what cancer took from me. He is caring, compassionate and a true artist. It is virtually impossible to tell that my breasts are not my ‘originals’
Rena H.
Dr Levine is an outstanding Doctor. He is a wonderful human being and a highly skilled surgeon. My results are nothing short of miraculous. There is no one like Doctor Levine. He is an artist and a true professional.
