New Procedure for Breast Reconstruction
For the first time at Broomfield Hospital a patient underwent a new procedure for breast reconstruction involving reconstructing the breast, using tissue from the upper thigh. This procedure was pioneered by an Austrian surgeon, Thomas Schoeller, and performed by consultant plastic surgeon, Mr Venkat Ramakrishnan, during a six-hour operation.
Mr Ramakrishnan said:” I met Dr Schoeller at a conference and knew I had a patient suitable for this procedure. Usually when we reconstruct the breast, following a mastectomy (removal of the breast), we take tissue from the stomach area, and occasionally the back, but this particular patient had already had tissue taken from the stomach so using tissue from the thigh seemed an obvious solution for this lady.”
The operation took six hours to complete and was performed by Venkat and his team under the watchful eye of Dr Schoeller who travelled to Chelmsford to guide the team through the procedure.
Venkat said:” The operation went very well and we actually managed to do it in six hours, which was quicker than usual. The patient was very pleased with the result and is making a full recovery.”
“When some women have a mastectomy they have an implant to rebuild the breast but reconstruction using their own tissue is a far better option. The type of implant that is used for reconstruction has to be changed more often than those used for cosmetic breast enlargements. By using the patient’s own body tissue it works much better as it behaves like a real breast and doesn’t ever have to be replaced.”
Breast Reconstruction at St Andrews - An Overview
Any patient who receives a mastectomy (breast removal) should have reconstruction discussed with them, as laid down in the NICE guidelines, and this is where Mr Venkat Ramakrishnan and his colleagues at the St Andrew’s centre come in.
Mr Ramakrishnan said:” At the St Andrews centre we run one of the biggest breast reconstruction services covering the whole of Essex and North East London. We probably perform more breast reconstructions than any other unit in the country and last year performed over 300. We can offer ladies every type of reconstruction available, mostly using the ladies own body tissue to rebuild the breast.”
The reconstructions available involve using body tissue from the tummy, back and thigh. When body tissue is taken from the tummy the surgeon can perform a tummy tuck at the same time that leaves a bikini line scar and a flatter stomach for the patient.
Mr Ramakrishnan adds: “When some women have a mastectomy they have an implant to rebuild the breast but reconstruction using body tissue is a far better option. The type of implant that is used for reconstruction has to be changed more often than those used for cosmetic breast enlargements. By using the patient’s own body tissue it works much better as it behaves like a real breast and doesn’t ever have to be replaced. When the women increases or loses weight the reconstructed breast does the same. If a patient has one good operation using their own body tissue they are usually discharged by the consultant after six months whereas patients who have implants have to have check ups every six to 12 months and would probably need an operation for a new implant after five or ten years. Therefore over 20 years using body tissue for reconstruction is more resource and cost effective as well as being better for the patient.”
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