Breast reconstruction after mastectomy using the temporary expander.

Breast reconstruction after a radical mastectomy using the temporary subcutaneous tissue expander is described. The main principle of this method is recovery of the amount of lost tissue through expansion of the remaining chest skin to large proportions and filling of the breast envelope with a smaller permanent mammary implant. Sixty-eight patients were reconstructed with an average follow-up of 18 months. Average expansion time for breast development was 6 weeks, with an average reconstructed breast size of 300 to 400 cc. Contralateral round dermal mastopexy with simultaneous nipple enlargement, contralateral subcutaneous mastectomy through a similar round dermal mastopexy, and reconstruction of the nipple are discussed.