Recovering From Breast Reconstruction

, , , , ,

After a lumpectomy or mastectomy to remove breast cancer, many patients choose to undergo breast reconstruction, an elective surgery for women who desire to rebuild their breasts after breast cancer treatment.  Since each breast cancer patient’s journey is different, there are several reconstructive techniques to address the amount of remaining tissue, the severity of the cancer, and the patient’s body structure.  However, regardless of the particular form of reconstruction, all patients want to back to normal, healthy activities as soon as they possibly can.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hunter Moyer performs a wide range of breast reconstruction techniques, taking into account each patient’s unique breast cancer journey and works to develop the most ideal recovery plan.  Each patient’s road to recovery is different.  The most important aspect of follow-up consultations is the ability to monitor the healing process and advise when an appropriate time is to re-introduce regular physical routines.

A TRAM flap procedure uses a part of the lower abdominal muscle, its blood vessels, and some abdominal fat to rebuild the breast, therefore recovery should be gradual.  Patients can generally start walking the next day, with expected tenderness and soreness at the surgical site.  Calf and deep breathing exercises for the first two to three days can assist in preventing blood clots.  Three to four days after surgery patients can begin arm rehabilitation exercises to reduce swelling and, once the drains are removed, can start stretching the chest and shoulders as well.  Regular walks during recovery have been shown to be beneficial, but patients should avoid all abdominal exercises until at least six weeks after surgery and then only with your surgeon’s approval.  Start slowly and gently while continuing your stretching exercises and walking or other low-intensity aerobic exercise.

The latissimus dorsi flap technique uses an oval section of muscle, skin, and fat from below the shoulder and behind the armpit to rebuild the breast.  Because this type of reconstruction affects the shoulder muscle, you should wait to start any gentle shoulder stretching until about two weeks after surgery, and for about three months after surgery to do any resistance/strength exercises.  If you have any shortness of breath, pain, or tightness in your chest, stop exercising immediately. Directly working with your surgeon to develop a plan of movements that are right for you is beneficial in minimizing adverse effects to newly constructed breasts.

DIEP flap breast reconstruction utilizes fat, skin, and blood vessels, but no muscle from the wall of the lower belly to rebuild the breast.  Because no muscle is used, most women may recover more quickly than a TRAM flap patient.  After DIEP flap surgery, recovery is similarly experienced as with TRAM flap surgery, although strength training can probably be resumed earlier, with approval.

There are a number of factors to be considered when planning the road to recovery for breast reconstruction patients.  Thoroughly discussing your progress and future steps is vital to ensuring the safest recovery possible.  If you are interested in discussing breast reconstruction options or your plan to recovery, please contact us today. Be sure to follow Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery news.

Planning Your Breast Augmentation: Facts on Implants

, , , , , , , , ,

According to the latest statistics by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast augmentation has consistently been the top cosmetic surgical procedure since 2006. Cosmetic breast surgery is a safe and transformative procedure, but it is highly important for patients to conduct their research and make informed decisions about their surgery. With the numerous online tools available and various sources claiming different information, plastic surgery research can often feel overwhelming. To help his patients learn more about breast enhancement and their implant options, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Hunter Moyer shares a brief list of facts and reputable resources.

  • The FDA has approved three types of breast implants: saline, silicone, and highly cohesive silicone gel (also known as “gummy bear implants”).
  • Implants come in a variety of shapes, textures, and sizes to fit different bodies. During your consultation, there are tools such as sizers and imaging technology to help determine a proper size for your aesthetic goals.
  • Instead of breast cup sizes (A,B,C..), implants are measured by cubic centimeters (cc’s) which are determined by the amount of saline or silicone used to fill each implant.
  • The Keller Funnel™ is an FDA-approved device to directly transfer the implant from its packaging directly to the patient so the risk of contamination and complications are significantly reduced.
  • Surgical incisions can be made on various areas of the body to insert the implant such as under the breast, in the armpit, or even the belly button. The most common location is under the breast as scarring is covered and it provides direct access to the breast cavity.
  • Breast implants can be used for both cosmetic purposes as well as reconstructive. Depending on the patient’s body and preference, implants can be an option for breast reconstruction.

As a board certified plastic surgeon with vast experience in breast procedures, Dr. Moyer always reminds patients to check their surgeon’s background and credentials as well as implant information from the manufacturers.

  • The FDA publishes data sheets and approval information on their website.
  • Accredited professional associations like ASPS and The American Society of Aesthetic Surgery (ASAPS) provide lists of procedures and current events relating to plastic surgery. ASPS also has a list of questions to ask your surgeon regarding breast surgery.
  • Implant manufacturers such as Allergan®, Mentor®, and Sientra® offer breast implant information and safety guidelines.

If you are interested in breast augmentation or any other cosmetic procedure Dr. Moyer offers, please contact our office today. Be sure to connect with Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest updates and plastic surgery news.

Dr. Hunter Moyer of Atlanta Plastic Surgery Named a 2013 Patients’ Choice Award Recipient

, , , , , ,

Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Hunter Moyer won a Patients’ Choice Award for 2013. According to statistics provided by Patients’ Choice, this honor is awarded to only approximately 5 percent of physicians nationwide who have received near perfect rating scores on online review sites. Patients’ Choice reviews public ranking and other quality measures such as medical certifications and continued, consistent ratings over the course of the year of the award.

Many patients refer to online resources to choose their physician and share their experiences regarding their procedure and care. Dr. Moyer has received exceptional ratings among online review websites and is now included on the Patients’ Choice database where patients can locate physicians of all specialties with quality care in their communities.

Dr. Moyer and his medical team sees patients at both of his practice locations at Northside-Forsyth in Cumming and Northside-Sandy Springs in Atlanta where he performs an array of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures for the face, breasts, and body. In addition to providing optimal care for his plastic surgery patients, he also continues to author and research studies on new technology, breast reconstruction techniques, and breast implant designs to improve results and patient experience.

If you’re interested in a procedure with an Atlanta Patients’ Choice Award Doctor, please contact us today to schedule your consultation. Also be sure to connect with Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest plastic surgery updates.

Learning about Your Breast Reconstruction Options

, , , , , ,

October is breast cancer awareness month with the color pink appearing almost everywhere. As an Atlanta plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Hunter Moyer understands firsthand the effects of breast cancer and is dedicated to educating patients about their available breast reconstruction options.

Dr. Moyer wants to stress to all patients that they have options.  Many women choose breast reconstruction as a healing step in their journey to restore their physical appearance. Reconstruction can either be immediate and performed at the same time as a mastectomy or delayed until after a mastectomy or other cancer treatments are completed. During the procedure, Dr. Moyer will rebuild the breast mound, recreate the nipple and/or areola, and reposition breasts to improve symmetry.

Breast reconstruction can be performed using implants, tissue expanders, and tissue flaps. Tissue expanders are usually required for reconstruction to gradually expand tissue on the chest wall to cover and support an implant or flap. Like breast augmentation, there are saline, silicone, and highly cohesive “gummy bear” implants available to enhance the appearance of breasts.

Another option, tissue flaps, harvests healthy fat, skin, and muscle from other areas of the body to reconstruct the breast. At Atlanta Plastic Surgery, Dr. Moyer has refined reconstructive flap techniques including the latissimus flap, DIEP technique, and TRAM flap technique. Dr. Moyer and his medical team will discuss each of these options and counsel patients to which option is best suited based on body structure, amount of healthy tissue available, and overall aesthetic goals.

Throughout October, many organizations and reconstructive surgeons participate in breast cancer awareness events to help further educate and raise proceeds towards breast cancer research. To learn more about your reconstructive options or other plastic surgery procedures, please contact our office today. Be sure to connect with Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest updates.

The First Free Tissue Transfer in Reconstructive Plastic Surgery at Northside-Forsyth Hospital

, , , , , , ,

Earlier this year in March 2013, Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Hunter Moyer performed the first free tissue transfer surgery ever at Northside-Forsyth Hospital. Free tissue transfer, a technique in reconstructive plastic surgery, is a procedure that relocates healthy tissue to repair another area of the body. Dr. Moyer performs free tissue transfers to address injuries caused by trauma, severe burns, or cancer removal. While this is a highly complex procedure, free tissue transfer surgery is a possible option for breast reconstruction and cosmetic surgery at both Northside hospitals in Atlanta and Forsyth County.

Free tissue transfer harvests healthy skin, fat, muscle, or bone in the form of a flap that is transferred from the donor site to another site. Along with the tissue, blood supply is transferred so arteries and veins are also transferred and reconnected to vessels at the receiving site using a surgical microscope. Dr. Moyer examines areas requiring a tissue flap as well as the areas where tissue may be safely harvested. By using materials from the patient’s own body, the risk of infection and post-operative risks are significantly reduced. Tissue transfers can provide natural-looking plastic & reconstructive surgery results and resolve a range of conditions and injuries.

This procedure is commonly used in a number of reconstructive treatments including facial and breast reconstruction. Dr. Moyer performs breast reconstruction surgery with various tissue flap techniques including the TRAM flap (transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous), a reconstructive technique refined at Atlanta Plastic Surgery, P.C. In addition to tissue flaps, patients can also choose breast reconstruction with implants. Dr. Moyer surgically inserts saline or silicone implants to restore the breast mound.

For more information on reconstructive or cosmetic procedures that Dr. Moyer performs, contact us to schedule your consultation. For more news and updates on plastic surgery, follow Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

The New Generation of Silicone Gel Breast Implants’ Effect on Capsular Contracture

, , , , , , ,

In the October 2012 issue of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal, Atlanta plastic surgeon Dr. Hunter Moyer conducted a study titled, “The Effect of Silicone Gel Bleed on Capsular Contracture” with Drs. Ghazi and Losken, also from Atlanta. In the study, the latest generation silicone gel breast implants, also known as highly cohesive gel implants, were tested for its effect on a common breast implant complication. Capsular contracture is an implant complication that occurs when the body forms excess scar tissue around an implant, creating a hardened breast texture and appearance. Dr. Moyer’s study explored how silicone gel bleed, or when the silicone fill of an implant leaks out of the shell, affected the breast.

The use of silicone breast implants in breast augmentation and breast reconstruction is increasing each year, according to statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The highly cohesive silicone implants used in the study are Mentor’s Contour Profile Gel® (CPG) and Allergan’s Natrelle 410® implants. Since these implants are fairly new, Dr. Moyer has extensively researched the safety of these breast implants in his lab both at Emory and Georgia Tech.

Results conclude that the silicone gel fill does not harm the patient’s body, as the new implants are stronger and safer, and that even in the event of an implant rupture, the body will react locally but not systemically. Dr. Moyer continues investigating techniques and new developments in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

For more information on a procedure or to schedule a consultation, contact our office today. Also, connect with Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more plastic surgery news.

Have You Seen Dr. Moyer in the May Issue of The Atlantan Magazine?

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Featured in The Atlantan’s May 2013 issue, Atlanta plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Hunter Moyer answers frequently asked questions about breast implants. With the FDA’s recent approval of Allergan’s Natrelle 410 highly cohesive silicone gel implants, many patients have asked about their implant options for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. In the article, Dr. Moyer addresses the differences between silicone implants and the new “gummy bear” form stable implants.

Saline and silicone implants are silicone elastomer shells filled with either sterile saline solution or a silicone gel. Both are also FDA approved for use in breast enhancement and breast reconstruction surgery. Allergan’s 410 cohesive gel implants contain a stronger outer shell and are filled with a thicker, form-stable silicone gel, reducing the likelihood of leakage or shape loss.

If you are interested in breast surgery or any other cosmetic procedure Dr. Moyer performs, please contact us today to schedule a consultation. Be sure to also connect with Dr. Moyer on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for more plastic surgery updates and news.