My mother has breast cancer and wishes to undergo a mastectomy. However, her plastic surgeon declined to perform implant reconstruction due to her Hidradenitis Suppurativa. We're devastated by this news. Are there any other options available to her? Should we search for a surgeon willing to proceed despite her condition?
Hydradenitis suppurativa is an infection of the sweat glands, and if it is in the axilla near the surgical site, it can increase the risk of surgical site infection. Controlling the infection before surgery is crucial, regardless of the method of breast reconstruction. Once the infection is under control, the chances of surgical site infection decrease, and you can consider breast reconstruction options.
The surgeon is taking a cautious approach and considering the condition as one that could increase the risk of infection. When placing any implant, it is crucial to evaluate each patient for risk factors that could contribute to an infection. In this case, using the patient's own tissue would be the most suitable option. The commonly employed method in our practice is the DIEP flap, which utilizes the skin and fat from the lower abdomen to reconstruct the breast. Your mother would be a candidate for this procedure if she has excess skin and fat in the lower abdomen.
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