Onco Plastic Surgery
Consultations offered at our five convenient locations in Harley Street, London, Princess Margaret Hospital, (Windsor), Spire Thames Valley, (Gerrards Cross), Kings' Oak Hospital, (Enfield) and Refresh Medispa, (Amersham)
Onco plastic surgery is a relatively recent development in breast cancer care. It aims to ensure that breast cancer is surgically removed in a way that is oncologically safe as well as aesthetically acceptable.
- Duration: Variable
- Daycase / Overnight: 1 night
- Type of Anaesthetic: GA
- Bra / Garment to be worn for: 6 weeks
- Return to Work (depending on job): 2 weeks
- Return to Gym: 6 weeks
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Before and After Photos
Benefits
The importance of aesthetic outcome in breast cancer treatment has been proven by studies that show that women feel more confident and view themselves more positively if their breasts are not deformed after breast cancer surgery.
Maisam Fazel uses a range of techniques to conserve as much as the natural breast as possible and to avoid performing a full mastectomy.
Onco plastic surgery allows:
- Surgical removal of breast cancer tissue
- Replacing the resulting lost volume of breast tissue
- Adjusting the remaining breast tissue to provide a good breast shape
- Adjusting the non-affected breast to ensure symmetry
Expectations
As an experienced onco plastic surgeon, Maisam Fazel can draw on both his comprehensive knowledge of breast cancer surgery as well as his extensive experience in plastic surgery to produce an optimal aesthetic outcome. Depending on the size and location of the breast cancer, he will advise the most appropriate onco plastic technique to be used which will include:
- Breast remodelling
- Therapeutic mammoplasty (like a breast reduction)
- Local perforator flaps (restoring lost volume)
- Fat transfer to the breasts (filling defects)
FAQ
Is onco plastic surgery safe?
All surgical procedures carry a degree of risk. Maisam Fazel will discuss these in full during the consultation. He takes into account a patient’s current health situation to ensure suitability for surgery and liaises with the oncology team when planning the procedure.
What are the different types of Onco plastic procedures offered by Maisam Fazel?
Remodelling of the breast tissue: Once the tumour is removed, the remaining breast tissue is reshaped to disguise the defect. This is suitable for smaller tumours.
Therapeutic mammoplasty: If the tumour is large, it may be possible to prevent a mastectomy by performing a therapeutic mammaplasty or breast reduction. This technique involves reducing the breast to a smaller size once the tumour is removed and reducing and lifting the other breast to match. This is usually suitable for women with larger breasts.
Local perforator flap volume replacement: This sophisticated technique entails recruiting tissue from the side or front of the chest wall to replace volume lost when a lumpectomy is performed. It is best suited to women who have smaller breasts with tumours located in the lower and outer half of the breast. Examples of this technique are LICAP, LTAP and TDAP flaps. Maisam Fazel is one of the few onco plastic surgeons in the UK who can offer this procedure.
Fat transfer to the breast: This entails taking fat from one area of the body, purifying it and then injecting into the breasts where it grafts permanently. It is a good technique for correcting volume defects after a lumpectomy and it can be repeated a number of times to produce the ideal aesthetic outcome.
How long does it take to recover from onco plastic surgery?
Recovery depends on which onco plastic surgery procedure is performed. Return to normal activities and to work within a few weeks can be expected, depending on a patient’s general health.
What is the difference between onco plastic surgery and breast reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction refers to reconstruction of the whole breast after a mastectomy, whether at the same time or at a later stage. Onco plastic surgery aims to preserve the ‘normal’ appearance of the breast after a lumpectomy.