For most women who’ve undergone a mastectomy or breast removal surgery, they describe the experience as “losing a part of themselves.” It does not only cause change physically, but it also affects how they view themselves, causing them to lose self-confidence and self-esteem. As a result, many breast cancer survivors are opting to have plastic surgery operations such as breast reconstruction.

Breast reconstruction helps restore the shape of your breasts before mastectomy, creating a natural and symmetric-looking result. If you have undergone a double mastectomy, the procedure recreates proportional breasts that suit your body frame. If you only had one breast removed, the process focuses on matching the look of the other breasts.

The reconstruction surgery can be done either through a tissue flap (autologous breast reconstruction) or through breast implants. Autologous breast reconstruction extracts tissue (skin, fat and sometimes muscle) from a donor area in the body and uses that to recreate the breast’s shape. On the other hand, implant based reconstruction uses breast implants- placed behind or in front of the chest muscle.

Either method can produce desirable results. Another essential factor to think about is when you will undergo breast augmentation. The timing of your operation affects the length of your recovery process and the possible health complication that may arise. Breast reconstruction procedures can be immediate, delayed, or delayed-immediate.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction

As the name suggests, immediate breast reconstruction is done in the same operation as soon as the mastectomy finishes. After your cancer surgeon successfully removes the breast, your plastic surgeon will come in to reconstruct a new one. The procedure can be done with either implants or tissue flaps.

However, immediate breast reconstruction is not recommended if you are required to undergo further treatment for breast cancer. The reconstruction process may negatively affect any other operations. With that said, if you are only undergoing a prophylactic mastectomy — mastectomy to reduce a high risk of breast cancer — then you may opt to have breast reconstruction immediately.

Delayed Breast Reconstruction

As mentioned earlier, breast reconstruction can hinder other operations for the areas affected by cancer, though it is a case-to-case basis. Regardless, if you want to be assured that your treatment has completely healed, you may opt to have delayed breast reconstruction. The reconstruction process starts after all cancer-related therapies like radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgeons usually advise their patients to wait until 6 to 12 months after mastectomy before considering undergoing breast reconstruction. If you are still uncertain about the procedure, it can also be done years after your breast removal surgery.

Delayed-Immediate Breast Reconstruction

If you have further cancer-related procedures to go through but want to undergo breast reconstruction immediately, you may want to opt for a staged approach.

In this method, the surgeon initially inserts a tissue expander under the chest muscle after mastectomy. This way, it maintains the shape of the breasts. The expander has a port where the surgeon adds or removes fluid throughout your other procedures. For example, during radiation therapy, the doctor can deflate the expander to allow the radiation to target the area affected by cancer. Once you have recovered from the other operations, you may move on to reconstructing the breasts. The expander is removed and then replaced by a tissue flap or breast implant.

So, those are the three different options you have regarding breast reconstruction. When deciding when to undergo reconstructive surgery, it is essential to talk it through with your surgeon. The time of surgery will depend not only on your personal preference but also your body’s ability to cope with additional plastic surgery. Make sure that your health is in tiptop shape to avoid any possible complications. Furthermore, if you decide to undergo implant-based reconstruction, then choosing the right implants will be crucial to the success of your surgery.

Breast Reconstruction with Motiva® Implants

As mentioned earlier, breast reconstruction aims to recreate the natural look and feel of your breasts. A common concern people have regarding implant-based reconstruction is the possibility of looking “fake” because implants are usually firmer and move less naturally. However, with brands like Motiva® Breast Implants, you do not have to worry about any of that.

With Motiva® Breast Implants, you can achieve the look and feel of natural breasts. It comes in two types, Motiva® Round and Motiva® Ergonomix™.

The Motiva® Round Implants are made of a silicone-based elastomer shell, filled with a patented silicone gel called ProgressiveGel Plus™. The well-balanced gel elasticity and firmness allows the breasts to look fuller, younger, and give you a more active looking body.

On the other hand, Motiva® Ergonomix™ is filled with ProgressiveGel Ultima™, an elastic silicone gel designed to give the implant a more anatomical shape and softer feel. This implant looks round when lying down and moves to the shape of natural breasts when standing up.

Motiva® Breast Implants have a SmoothSilk™/SilkSurface™ shell. Achieved through 3D nanotechnology imprinting, this smooth outer surface minimizes the growth and attachment of bacteria and reduces the risk of capsular contracture and late seroma. Motiva® also has a TrueMonobloc® shell that allows easy insertion through a smaller incision (2.5cm to 3cm) due to its superior durability. It results in less pain, bleeding, and scars during recovery.

Furthermore, Motiva® Breast Implants have a BluSeal® indicator, a protective layer surrounding the implants, allowing the surgeon to detect potential implant defects such as gel bleeding and ruptures before implantation. Also, it has the Q Inside Safety Technology™, the first RFID micro transponder cleared by the FDA for use in humans. You can quickly get all the implant information by scanning the breasts using a QID reader.

Motiva® does not only give aesthetic satisfaction, but it also promotes safety through its innovation. A 6-year prospective study among patients that used Motiva® Breast Implants shows less than 1% of cases of implant complications. It also has low rates of capsular contracture, late seroma, and zero reported cases of BIA-ALCL (Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma).

Motiva® is cleared for commercial distribution in over 60 countries such as Singapore, Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and more. To know more about Motiva® Breast Implant, you can visit their website.