Ten years ago, surveys found more than half of women said they wanted more information about their breast surgery choices. A new survey shows progress has been made. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20221017/Survey-measures-common-myths-and-misconceptions-about-breast-reconstruction-surgery.aspx?fbclid=IwAR35UaIo-v2WX3k0Cst_f2UCYLvbxdHiStF9PtbtvnxTAp_tAzOKugPooJA
Category Archives: Breast Reconstruction
Comfortable Bra for Breast Cancer Patients, Others
Tamika Mayes has developed a comfortable bra _ both those who have undergone breast surgery and others who just want a comfortable undergarment.
Mayes, of Detroit, designed the seamless bra for her mother-in-law, Celeste Hinds, of Southfield, who found most bras uncomfortable after she underwent radiation for breast cancer.
Mayes learned how to sew, bought a machine and set out to make a unique, seamless comfortable garment for breast cancer patients who find the stitching in many products just to irritating to their skin, both after surgery or radiation or for years afterwards.
Her product, Reyz, is a wire-free bra made of 12 % spandex lycra and 88% microfiber nylon.
It is $55 and comes in black or nude colors and sizes small/medium; medium/large; large/extra-large; and extra-large/2X.
Though Mayes designed the bra for breast cancer patients, she has found that other women like it because it doesn’t ride up, as many soft bras do. “Any woman can wear it,” said Mayes. “Women with heavy breasts say, this is so comfortable.”
I have searched for years for a comfortable wireless bra that doesn’t ride up. I bought one of Mayes’ bras, which arrived quickly in the mail in a beautifully packaged box. I recommend it for its comfort and wearability.
Mayes has teamed up with a U.S. company to make the first 1,000 bras. Women can order the product on line, getreyz.com, or at some of the pop-up stores Mayes plans to hold in the year ahead.
She also plans to make other products, including a bra with a pocket to hold a prothesis as well as larger sizes. She is open to other suggestions.
Infection Delayed Her Reconstruction but She’s Well Again, Sandra Lee says.
Celebrities with breast cancer often say little about the surgery and whether they encountered any problems. Cudos to Sandra Lee for coming forward with her story.
https://people.com/health/sandra-lee-finishing-breast-reconstruction-after-mastectomy-complications/?
New Device to Recreate the Nipple
As we reported in our book, the nipple can be a real challenge for plastic surgeons. Unless women undergo nipple-sparing mastectomy, the nipple typically is made in a separate surgical procedure and inks used in medical offices have not been lasting. Here’s a new product for plastic surgery offices: Nipple-By-Number.
https://www.cancernetwork.com/breast-cancer/nipple-number-shows-promise-performing-3d-nipple-areola-tattoo-reconstruction #breastreconstruction
What Women Need to Know About Breast Implants: FDA Backgrounder
Proposed regulations from the federal Food and Drug Administration address problems with breast implants and call for more frequent screening, beginning at 5-6 years after surgery and every 2 years after that, for women with the devices.
Here’s a good backgrounder from the FDA on the issues:
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-know-about-breast-implants
#breastreconstruction #mammography #breastimaging #breastimplants
FDA Calls for Warning Labels for Breast Implants
Following testimony by women last spring about problems caused by breast implants, the FDA will require new warning labels on the devices, and defines risks and problems with them. The public has 60 days to comment on the new regulations. Here’s how to comment and the FDA notice issued today:
The draft guidance, Breast Implants – Certain Labeling Recommendations to Improve Patient Communication, provides recommendations for the form and content for certain labeling information for saline and silicone gel-filled breast implants, including:
- Boxed warning
- Patient decision checklist
- Materials/device descriptions, including types and quantities of chemicals and heavy metals found in or released by breast implants
- Silicone gel-filled breast implant rupture screening recommendations
- Patient device card
When final, the recommendations in this guidance will supplement or, in some cases, replace recommendations in the FDA’s Saline, Silicone Gel, and Alternative Breast Implants guidance, issued November 17, 2006.
This draft guidance will be open for public comments for 60 days, through December 23, 2019, at www.regulations.gov under docket number FDA-2019-D-4467.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/23/health/breast-implants-fda-boxed-warning-bn/index.html
Women Report Unhappiness with Breast Surgery Scars; Talk to Your Breast Surgeon Before Your Operation
Textured Breasts Implants Withdrawn World-Wide
At the request of the federal government, the manufacturer of textured breasts implants has withdrawn the product world-wide over cancer concerns. The federal Food and Drug Administration, which requested the action, said women with the implants who do not have problems do not need to remove them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/24/health/breast-implants-cancer-recall.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
Free, Helpful Phone App for Breast Surgery Information
For those of you who like to find info using your phone, there’s a good new free app from a leading plastic surgeon with loads of helpful info. The link: https://www.facebook.com/BreastAdvocate/
Congress Considers Lymphedema Legislation
Pending federal legislation would require health insurers to cover compression breast sleeves and other medically necessary help for breast and other surgery patients. Here’s a link with background and ways to support the bill. https://lymphedematreatmentact.org/