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 Breast Reconstruction

 Read the following text and complete the activity which follows.

Listen to the audio of the text to help you.

 

Before you start, review

 

areola                          pigmented area around the nipple

mastectomy                 removal of the breast  (masto- breast + -ectomy removal of)

device                          piece of equipment

implant                        device placed into the body

saline                           sodium chloride or salt water

tattoo                           pigmented shading of the skin                                                                                                                                                           

 

What is breast reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction is a type of plastic surgery used for women who have had a mastectomy. The surgery rebuilds the breast mound so that it is about the same size and shape as it was before.
 

Operations for breast reconstruction may use one of the following techniques:
 

1. breast implants: saline or silicone breast implants are inserted in the space created when breast tissue is removed during the mastectomy.
 

2. tissue flaps: a section of skin, fat and muscle is grafted from another part of the body to fashion a breast mound.
 

3. tissue expanders: a balloon-like device is inserted under the skin and chest muscle. Saline is injected into the device at regular intervals to fill the expander until enough skin has stretched over the breast area. A second operation will exchange the expander with a permanent implant.
 

After initial breast reconstruction, a nipple and areola can also be added using a nipple graft or tissue transplant and tattooing to match the colour of the opposite areola. Some women, however, prefer to just have nipple tattooing rather than further surgery.
 

The text was taken from: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/moreinformation/breastreconstructionaftermastectomy/breast-reconstruction-after-mastectomy-types-of-br-recon -


Activity: Match the terms on the left with their correct meanings on the right.

 

  1. mastectomy

  1. grafting of a saved nipple onto a reconstructed breast

  1. areola tattooing

  1. transplant of living skin, fat and muscle

  1. nipple reconstruction

  1. balloons inserted under the skin which are expanded with saline

  1. tissue flap

  1. artificial prostheses inserted under the skin

  1. tissue expander

  1. surgical removal of a breast

  1. breast implant

  1. micro-pigmentation or colouring of a new areola and nipple

 

 

 

Activity: The TRAM (trans–rectus abdominis muscle) procedure. Place the letter next to the correct description. The first one is done for you.

Before you start, review

trans-               across

rectus              straight

abdominis       abdomen or tummy

navel               belly button

 

 

 

 D     re–positioned navel       


         trans rectus abdominis muscle

     
         muscle flap
 

        suture lines of new  breast
    

         abdominal incision line                            
                                                                                      
 

 

 



 

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