Breast reconstruction with Dr. Matthew Lewis
After undergoing a mastectomy to treat or prevent breast cancer, a breast reconstruction in Portland with our Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Lewis, can rebuild your chest and restore your femininity.
Is breast reconstruction right for you?
Not all women choose to have their breasts reconstructed following a mastectomy. It’s a very personal decision that can only be made after weighing the facts and considering what is most important to you.
To begin determining if our breast reconstruction in Portland, Oregon surgery is in your best interest, consider asking yourself the following:
- Are you open to an additional surgery after your mastectomy to recreate your breasts?
- Is it important that your breasts are surgically rebuilt – or can you live with a removable prosthetic?
- Will this surgery help you feel like yourself again?
Who is a candidate for breast reconstruction?
Ideal candidates for our breast reconstruction in Portland, Oregon surgery with Dr. Lewis must have the following characteristics:
- Non-smoker
- Good overall health
- Realistic expectations
- Willingness to undergo additional procedures in the future
Your breast reconstruction recovery period
If your breasts were rebuilt with tissue expanders and implants, you will need approximately three to four weeks off from work.
It’s important to note that complete healing from these procedures can take much longer. Many of our Portland breast reconstruction patients are not entirely recovered until a few months after their surgery.
What are the benefits of fat transfer during breast reconstruction?
- Increased flexibility in sculpting the breast mounds
- Correction of dents after lumpectomy
- It helps camouflage the edges of breast implants
- Increases the bust size
- Improves the overall breast contours
- Improves the appearance of scars
- Combats damage from radiation
- Natural-looking results
- Little to no risk of rejecting the fat
- Transferred fat resembles authentic breast tissue
- Short treatment time of less than one hour
- Straightforward recovery
- Low risk of complications
FAQ: How does Dr. Matthew Lewis reconstruct nipples during breast reconstruction?
Several factors including tumor size and location within the breast will determine whether you are a candidate for a nipple-sparing mastectomy, or traditional mastectomy in which the nipples are removed along with your breast tissue. If your nipples are removed as part of your mastectomy, our Board-certified Portland plastic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Lewis, can reconstruct beautiful new nipples for you with a simple in-office procedure which is typically done as a final step in your breast reconstruction..
This procedure is done using a local anesthetic, which means you will be conscious the entire time. Dr. Lewis will make small incisions on the breast and lift up skin flaps that he will then fold, into a nipple shape, and secure with small sutures.
After the procedure, you will be given a nipple shield to protect the area for three days. Initially, your nipple may look large and pointed, but it will begin to flatten in about two weeks. Some tenderness is to be expected for about a week, and Dr. Lewis will provide pain medication to help you manage the discomfort.
Schedule an appointment today >>
A mastectomy can have a profound impact on your sense of self. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment, and begin planning for your breast reconstruction in Portland, Oregon with our Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Matthew Lewis.
A Portland Plastic Surgeon
407 NW 17TH AVE, STE 2Portland, OR 97209
Matthew Lewis,MD
Discover your true beauty. At the office of Dr. Matthew Lewis, we take everything into consideration, including your comfort, discretion, and of course your outcome. Please call us to schedule an appointment.