If you’ve decided to undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy, Rocky Mount, NC, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Frederick K. Park can help you feel whole again with modern, effective techniques. Dr. Park’s compassionate demeanor and excellent surgical skills create peace of mind for breast reconstruction patients from Greenville, Raleigh, Wilson, Murfreesboro, Goldsboro and other nearby areas during this emotional time.
Who Is a Candidate for Breast Reconstruction?
Anyone whose breast or breasts have been cosmetically affected by mastectomy or lumpectomy is entitled to breast reconstruction. It doesn’t matter if you have immediate reconstruction or choose to wait a while. Insurance carriers in the U.S. are required by law to cover the reconstruction of the affected, and sometimes the unaffected, breast. Your surgeon and your oncologist will help you determine which approach to breast reconstruction is best for your unique considerations.
Dr. Frederick K. ParkBoard-Certified Plastic Surgeon
With more than 30 years of experience providing the highest quality aesthetic care at his Rocky Mount practice, Dr. Park is the choice of women and men considering plastic surgery from Greenville, Raleigh, and throughout North Carolina.
Breast reconstruction involves different techniques; Dr. Park may perform them in phases or at the time of mastectomy. Some women have Dr. Park use implants to reconstruct their breast or breasts, while others prefer having him use tissue from the abdomen or back to rebuild the breast mound.
Staged Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction performed in staged procedures involves inserting a temporary implant—called a tissue expander—at the time of the mastectomy. Over several weeks, Dr. Park gradually inflates the expander with liquid or air until it reaches the desired size. He replaces the expander with a long-lasting breast implant during a second surgery. You may then undergo a procedure to reconstruct the nipple or have a nipple and areola tattoo.
Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction
Some women prefer combining the mastectomy with breast reconstruction by having Dr. Park perform direct-to-implant breast reconstruction. As with breast augmentation surgery, you can choose to have a saline or silicone gel implant used for reconstruction.
Autologous Flap Reconstruction
If you don’t want breast reconstruction using an implant, Dr. Park can rebuild the breast using fat, muscle, and skin taken from your abdomen or upper back. This procedure involves additional incisions and a longer recovery but creates a breast from your own tissue.
Your medical history, the current size of your breasts, and their shape and nipple position all influence the surgical plan that Dr. Park uses for your reconstruction.
Financing Options
It’s easy for qualified patients to finance their procedures through CareCredit®, which offers attractive payment plans for women and men choosing elective cosmetic surgery or nonsurgical treatments.
Breast reconstruction creates a new breast following removal, usually for breast cancer. The techniques available to women and plastic surgeons are expanding. A two-stage approach using a tissue expander followed by a permanent implant is common. Reconstruction can be performed at the time of the breast removal or in the future. This decision involves many factors and is an essential aspect of the consultation. Every patient needs to consider both the type of reconstruction and its timing.
In recent years, I’ve shifted to doing more direct-to-implant reconstruction using acellular dermal matrix, which removes the tissue expansion phase of reconstruction in select patients.
Breast reconstruction also presents an opportunity for a patient to choose a different breast than she originally had. She might decide to go larger, smaller, or higher when compared with the breast shape before removal. Breast reconstruction consultations are detailed and in-depth with many choices and explanations required for each patient to make the best decision for herself.
Meet With Dr. Park
If you’re considering breast reconstruction after mastectomy and are looking for a specialist in Raleigh, Greenville, or anywhere else in North Carolina, you can request a consultation with Dr. Park at our Rocky Mount location by using the online form. Or call us at
(252) 937-5003 to schedule an appointment.
Breast Reconstruction FAQ
Will I have sensation in the reconstructed breast?
Sensation in the reconstructed breast or breasts won’t be the same as it was before your mastectomy or lumpectomy.
Does breast reconstruction minimize scarring from the mastectomy?
Visible scarring results following either breast reconstruction or mastectomy without reconstruction. Dr. Park minimizes the scar’s appearance as much as possible.
Will my breasts look evenly sized?
If you’re undergoing a unilateral mastectomy (the surgeon removes only one breast), Dr. Park may recommend a breast lift, breast reduction, or breast augmentation for the other breast to improve the symmetry of the size, shape, and position of the breasts.