Common Questions

When Should I Talk to a Plastic Surgeon About Reconstructive Breast Surgery?

Although it may seem early, you should talk to a plastic surgeon about reconstructive breast surgery immediately after your breast cancer diagnosis. It may be hard to think that far ahead, but research has shown that general surgeons are not good at informing women about their breast reconstruction options. If your reconstructive plastic surgeon is not involved with you prior to having the cancer surgery, then you probably will not have as many reconstructive options.  If you wait too long before talking to a plastic surgeon, you may not have the same range of options that you would have had early on.

​

How Important is My Choice of Mastectomy Surgeon?

Very. General Surgeons are trained with the perspective of treating disease, and many make this their only concern. Although all good mastectomy surgeons will ensure that your cancer is removed, some are also conscious of how the surgery can impact your life post-surgery. . If your mastectomy surgeon cuts too aggressively or without regard to reconstruction, it can impair your reconstructive breast surgery options or your results. In the over 30 years since he started practicing in Dothan, Alabama, Dr. Charles Feagin, along with his partner Dr. William Owen, has worked with all the mastectomy surgeons in the region and know which ones are more conscientious in their practice. If you ask us, we can put you in contact with the mastectomy surgeons in the region that can do more than cure your cancer, they can help you heal by not impairing your breast reconstruction options.

​

Will My Breasts Look Natural After Breast Reconstruction?

Yes, to the extent possible. The goal of breast reconstruction is to give you natural-looking breasts. Your breasts will have a natural, proportional size and shape. They should feel and move like natural breasts. In clothes, no one should be able to tell that you have had breast reconstruction.  Most mastectomy patients reconstructed by Dr. Feagin and Dr. Owen, look better after reconstruction than they did prior to having breast cancer.

​

When Will My Reconstructive Breast Surgery Take Place?

Most of the time, part or all of your reconstructive breast surgery will be performed at the same time as your mastectomy. However, sometimes the stage of your cancer or your upcoming treatments will postpone your reconstructive surgery. Your reconstructive breast surgeon, either Dr. Feagin or Dr. Owen, will talk to you, your mastectomy surgeon, and your other doctors to determine the best time for your reconstructive breast surgery.

 

We favor performing them at the same time because it increases the psychological benefit of the procedure and prevents you from worrying about the cosmetic deformity that will result if reconstruction is not performed.

​

What types of breast reconstruction are available?

There are three main types of breast reconstruction available.

• Reconstruction with Breast Implants Alone

• Reconstruction with a Tissue Flap Alone

• Reconstruction with a Combination of Your Tissue and Implants

 

We perform all three types, and will talk to you and your doctors to determine which is the best option in your case.

​

What are the Advantages of Reconstruction with Breast Implants Alone?

Reconstruction with breast implants can sometimes be done in one stage, if you have enough breast skin. This makes the procedure easy and effective, with a relatively short recovery time. Even when reconstruction with breast implants is performed using tissue expanders, it has several advantages. It can give you larger breasts than you may be able to achieve using implants alone. Reconstruction with breast implants is also a less invasive surgery because there is no need to operate in the flap donor region.

​

What are the Advantages of Reconstruction with a Tissue Flap?

The main advantage of reconstruction with a tissue flap alone is that it is entirely your natural tissue, there is no implant involved. We offer two types of tissue flaps, latissmus dorsi flaps, which uses fat and muscle from the back to create the breast mound. We also offer a TRAM flap, which takes fat and muscle from the abdominal region to construct the breast mound. The Tram Flap has the advantage of giving you a tummy tuck as part of the procedure.

​

When do you use a combination of implants and my own tissue?

Sometimes we will use implants when you do not have sufficient tissue to create the breast mound you desire. Often times, we will use fat grafting around the breast implant to improve the quality of your results.

​

Why Should I Choose Feagin & Owen for My Reconstructive Breast Surgery?

If you want natural-looking results from your reconstructive breast surgery, you should work with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has been trained to create attractive and long-lasting results through the maneuvering of fat, skin, and muscle. With 60 years of combined experience, our plastic surgeons have helped thousands of women in Dothan, Alabama, Enterprise, Alabama, Destin, Florida; Panama City, Florida, and the surrounding region to get great looking results from breast surgery, including reconstructive breast surgery. We invite you to look at our Before & After gallery to get an example of our results. We have also developed strong, professional relationships with many surgeons in the area and can work together with your doctor to ensure the uniform quality of your care.