Partial breast reconstruction is offered only when you have wide local excision (lumpectomy) that will lead to a defect which cannot be prevented by mobilising the surrounding glandular breast tissue.

Partial breast reconstruction is performed using your own tissue. The tissue can be taken from the surrounding of your breast, and in some cases from your back. The viability of these tissue is maintained using prudent blood vessels penetrating through chest wall muscles (hence commonly known as chest wall perforator flap reconstruction). I utilise different blood vessels for partially reconstructing various parts of the breast and hence the procedure gets named after these individual blood vessel (MICAP, AICAP, LICAP and LTAP).

An immediate breast reconstruction can be offered to women undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer or those undergoing risk reducing mastectomy (due to the presence of gene mutation). I offer immediate breast reconstruction using implants (silicone implants) or expanders (implants that can be filled with fluid to adjust the final size of the reconstructed breast).

Patients who have had simple mastectomy in the past can be considered for delayed breast reconstruction. A staged approach is used, whereby, the skin is slowly stretched using an expander initially over a period, before planning the final reconstruction using silicone implants.

You will be seen in the clinic along with your breast care nurse. During the consultation, I will discuss with you regarding your surgery and show you various types of implants and adjuncts used for your reconstruction. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and see medical illustration photographs showing possible/expected post-operative outcomes. I will also provide you with written information about your surgery, post-operative risk, and exercises that needs to be performed to facilitate timely recovery from your surgery.

You will be admitted on the day of your surgery and will be met by our experienced team. The surgery will be done under general anaesthesia and post-operatively you will be looked after by our trained and experienced nursing staff. If you are having partial breast reconstruction, once you are comfortable, and our rigorous post-operative discharge requirements are met, you would be allowed to go home.

Women having implant-based reconstruction will be admitted overnight to ensure that you are comfortable and recovered emotionally, physically and physiologically. I will review you in the morning and then you will be allowed to go home.

If you are having a breast reconstruction with an implant, a drain will be inserted to facilitate removal of excess fluid that will be produced by the body after mastectomy. A drain care instruction leaflet will be provided to you during your pre-operative evaluation. You will also meet our experienced ward nurses and breast care nurses who will provide you with verbal instruction before discharge from the hospital. You will be provided with contact details of our team, if you need any assistance while recovering from your surgery at home. Our team will review you in the outpatient wound clinic to monitor the drain and remove it at a pre-determined time as per my instructions.