Expander Implant Technique – 2 Stage – Breast Reconstruction Surgery
The expander implant technique is a 2 stage procedure whereby an expander is first placed under the chest muscle (pectoralis muscle) to expand the submuscular space and the overlying skin immediately after the skin sparing mastectomy. The expander is gradually inflated after the surgery as a clinic procedure. After completion of post-operative chemotherapy and or radiotherapy, the expander is removed and replaced with a permanent silicone implant. This 2 stage procedure gives a more natural result and reduces the risk of capsular contracture which is more frequent with immediate single stage implant reconstruction. It has an added advantage of shorter surgery, earlier recovery and no donor site scars or morbidity
