REPAIR OF PARTIAL MASTECTOMY DEFECTS

Deformities caused by partial mastectomy can often be helped by plasti c surgical techniques. Immediate repair of partial mastectomy defects is especially useful when skin, as well as breast tissue, has been res ected. Distant tissue ran be used, but most partial mastectomy defects are best repaired with local naps. Shifting the defect into the axill a, where it is less noticeable, is often helpful. Alternatively, the b reast can be reshaped using techniques similar to those used in reduct ion mammaplasty. In that situation, reduction of the opposite breast o ften is indicated for symmetry.