SJM_PROFILE_Virtua_Penn_0922_Final_profile 9 / 26 / 22 3 : 52 PM Page p PROMOTION B U S I N E S S S P O T L I G H T the belly or other area . Patient Kristen Davidson of Cherry Hill is very happy with the DIEP flap recon - Breast Experts Team Up struction Dr . Au performed after her double mastectomy nearly five years ago . “ I look from the outside just like I did South Jersey’s Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Cancer prior to cancer , ” says Davidson , who also received small implants to match her prior Program Offers Unique Expertise in Breast shape . Reconstruction , Advanced Techniques . “ That’s how good Dr . Au is . He managed to make me look like I always did , ” adds the any women with breast cancer seek wife and mother . “ Just knowing I didn’t look reconstruction as part of their surgical any different — that was a big thing . ” Mtreatment . And today , they have more Dr . Au and his partner , Dr . Prakash options than ever to look and feel their Mathew , are specialists i n microvascular best . At the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health surgery , which is required for the DIEP flap Cancer Program , leading specialists offer procedure . This intricate type of surgery is highly advanced procedures right here in essential to ensure good blood flow to the South Jersey . reconstructed breast . “ Previously , people had to travel to “ We take each artery and vein in the Philadelphia or New York for state - of - the - transplanted tissue , and sew it to an artery art reconstruction , ” says Dr . Alexander Au , and vein i n the chest , ” he explains . “ We a breast - reconstruction expert with the work with blood vessels that are about 1.5 Penn / Virtua program . “ Now , women can millimeters and sutures that are finer than have these procedures in their own back - a human hair . ” yard . ” For other patients , implants are the Dr . Au discusses these options , which better option . help women achieve both physical and “ I insert a tissue expander , which is an emotional recovery from breast cancer . They adjustable implant . And then over the next include : couple of weeks , we slowly fill that expander DR . ALEXANDER AU to gently stretch the skin and make a nice l space for our final implant , ” Dr . Au explains . The DIEP flap procedure , which uses the “ Patients then come back for a second pro - patient’s own tissue from her belly or the breast or cause an indentation , ” says cedure to put in the final implant . ” other areas the board - certified plastic surgeon . “ It’s l Implant - based reconstruction important for women to know their options l Pre - pectoral implant placement , a ground - to improve breast symmetry and breast Implant Placement breaking technique that places the shape . That’s not as well - known . Dr . Au and his team offer another recent implant above the chest muscle rather “ Each patient , their cancer procedure , advancement , as well : placement of the than under it and their individualized reconstruction implant on top of the pectoral muscle rather journey is unique , ” he adds . “ A lot of variables than the traditional area below the muscle . Moreover , Dr . Au advises women to con - go into deciding a patient’s personalized These “ pre - pectoral ” implants offer sev - sider having reconstruction surgery at the care plan . ” eral advantages compared to those placed same time as their cancer surgery . Combining beneath the chest muscle : the two procedures — with the cancer surgeon Using Patient’s Tissue or Implants l and plastic surgeon working side - by - side — For instance , some women are candidates Faster recovery , often enabling patients generally provides the best cosmetic result for a DIEP flap procedure , which uses tissue to go home the same day as the surgery l and can spare patients from needing a sep - from their own bodies . Patients must have Less discomfort from the procedure l arate procedure . enough spare tissue in another area , such No change in the breast shape when the However , women can still decide at a as the belly , so that a portion can be used to patient uses her chest muscles later date to have breast reconstruction . rebuild one or both breasts . And some women choose not to have recon - This leading - edge technique is often the “ Pre - pectoral implants are catching on , structive surgery at all , enabling the quickest bestoption for women who’ve had a lumpec - but they’re not done at all centers , ” says recovery from cancer surgery . tomy and past radiation , says Dr . Au , as it Dr . Au . has a lower risk of infection and other com - Mastectomy or Lumpectomy plications , compared to the alternative of Experience Matters A woman may benefit from reconstruction using artificial implants . As with any type of surgery , it’s important whether she has a mastectomy — which DIEP flap reconstruction provides a nat - to have an experienced surgeon and team , removes the entire breast — or a lumpectomy , ural look and feel to the reconstructed breast . like that of the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health which removes a smaller amount of tissue . It also offers a “ silver lining ” for some women , Cancer Program . “ A lumpectomy can change the size of as the procedure remove excess tissue from Dr . Au , for example , performs 80 to 120 SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 19 issue 6 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 14 |