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Implant vs Natural Tissue Reconstruction
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All breast reconstruction procedures fall into one of two broad categories:
- Breast reconstruction using natural tissue from your own body
- Breast reconstruction using breast implants
The surgeons of the Advanced Reconstructive Surgery Group specialize breast reconstruction surgery.
Some of the key differences between natural-tissue breast reconstruction using perforator flaps such as the DIEP flap and implant breast reconstruction are summarized in the table below.
| IMPLANTS | FLAPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Material Used | Uses silicone or saline-filled implant | Uses a person’s own natural tissue |
| Long-term results | Implants generally don’t last forever—most women have an implant replaced one or more times during their lifetime | Flaps are permanent and never need to be replaced |
| Failure rate | FDA data shows that about 30% of implants are removed within 10 years | Our practice performs DIEP flaps with a success rate of at least 99.5% |
| Breast consistency | Breasts reconstructed with implants typically feel firmer and cooler to the touch than normal body temperature | Breasts reconstructed with natural tissue are soft and warm much like a natural breast |
| Breast sensation | Minimal to no return of sensation | To a variable degree, sensation frequently returns |
| Surgery time | Mastectomy with implant reconstruction typically takes about 2-3 hours | Mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction typically takes 3.5-5.5 hours |
| Hospital stay | Typical hospital stay is 1 night | Typical hospital stay is 2-3 nights |
| Number of procedures | Two procedures are usually needed to complete the reconstruction, though sometimes it can be done in with just a single procedure | Two procedures are usually needed to complete breast reconstruction using a woman’s own natural tissue |
| Recovery highlights | Most women can drive within 2 weeks of surgery and resume light exercise at 4-6 weeks | Most women can drive within 2-3 weeks of surgery and resume light exercise at 4-6 weeks |
Material Used
Implants
Uses silicone or saline-filled implant
Flaps
Uses a person’s own natural tissue
Long-term results
Implants
Implants generally don’t last forever—most women have an implant replaced one or more times during their lifetime
Flaps
Flaps are permanent and never need to be replaced
Failure rate
Implants
FDA data shows that about 30% of implants are removed within 10 years
Flaps
Our practice performs DIEP flaps with a success rate of at least 99.5%
Breast consistency
Implants
Breasts reconstructed with implants typically feel firmer and cooler to the touch than normal body temperature
Flaps
Breasts reconstructed with natural tissue are soft and warm much like a natural breast
Breast sensation
Implants
Minimal to no return of sensation
Flaps
To a variable degree, sensation frequently returns
Surgery time
Implants
Mastectomy with implant reconstruction typically takes about 2-3 hours
Flaps
Mastectomy with DIEP flap reconstruction typically takes 3.5-5.5 hours
Hospital stay
Implants
Typical hospital stay is 1 night
Flaps
Typical hospital stay is 2-3 nights
Number of procedures
Implants
Two procedures are usually needed to complete the reconstruction, though sometimes it can be done in with just a single procedure
Flaps
Two procedures are usually needed to complete breast reconstruction using a woman’s own natural tissue
Recovery highlights
Implants
Most women can drive within 2 weeks of surgery and resume light exercise at 4-6 weeks
Flaps
Most women can drive within 2-3 weeks of surgery and resume light exercise at 4-6 weeks
Many women prefer the look and feel of natural-tissue breast reconstruction to implant breast reconstruction. In the hands of experienced surgeons like the ones on our team, natural-tissue reconstruction is performed with a degree of safety on par with that of breast implant reconstruction and with a flap success rate of about 99.5%. The main downside to a natural- tissue reconstruction is the need for a scar somewhere else on the body, at the site from which tissue is obtained. In the long term, natural tissue breast reconstruction provides life-long results associated with significantly fewer re-operations and failures than is the case with implant breast reconstruction. Nonetheless, for some women, breast implant reconstruction is the preferred approach.
Regardless of which method of reconstruction you prefer, we are here to help. With our team, you will be cared for by some of the most highly skilled and dedicated surgeons in the world. We have extensive experience with all methods of breast reconstruction and offer the full spectrum of breast reconstructive surgery to our patients.
Contact us to schedule an appointment or to learn more about which option may be right for you.
Learn more about the most sophisticated methods of natural tissue breast reconstruction