The Hospital of Bellvitge has developed a new technique that allows for the complete reconstruction of the breast, including the nipple and areola, in a single surgical procedure. This procedure is minimally invasive and is performed in the context of a mastectomy in patients with breast cancer. For more than twelve years, the option of an immediate reconstruction was available for those cases where it was deemed apropriate; however, the nipple/areola reconstruction had to be postponed. Now, thanks to this new technique, the breast reconstruction is complete. “With this development we are able to reduce the traumatic effect that patients suffered when thay saw their reconstructed breast without areola and nipple, as well as to avoid additional visits to the OR”, explained Dr Joaquim Muñoz, plastic surgeon at the Hospital of Bellvitge.
The surgical procedure is performed using endoscopy to extract the latissimus dorsi muscle, which is used to reconstruct the excised breast. “This muscle serves as an internal support protecting the breast implant and giving volume to the reconstructed breast”, stated Dr Muñoz.
The surgeons in charge of the plastic and breast cancer surgery department of the hospital presented this technique, which has already been used in 22 patients since the end of 2012. This technique is aimed at patients with breast cancer undergoing a total mastectomy in order to remove the tumor, as well as a breast reconstruction with prosthesis.
Currently, more than 30% of the patients with breast cancer have to undergo a mastectomy, and in half of the cases the breast reconstruction needs to be performed using a prosthesis. According to Dr Muñoz, the technique developed at the Hospital of Bellvitge “allows for a single surgical procedure, offers better results as compared to the use of a synthetic mesh, the esthetic result is immediate and the scar on the shoulder is minimal”.
One of the patients who benefited from this technique is Leonor Garrido (47 years old), and she explained the following to the media: “The recovery process is pretty good, the scar is small and I am satisfied with my physical appearance“. “As a woman, you want to get rid of the disease, but also you want to look good, to be able to feel comfortable at the beach or the swimming pool”, said the patient.
