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Supporting Your Journey with Expert Care

At Refine Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics, your reconstruction is performed by Dr. Kyle Gabrick, a highly trained reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon whose approach blends surgical precision with artistic vision. Alongside him, Dr. Lucas Bryant, our dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon and medical director, oversees your experience with the same exacting standards of safety, ethics, and excellence that define Refine. Together, they ensure every aspect of your experience—from surgical design to emotional support—is grounded in medical authority, technical mastery, and a deep respect for your journey.

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What Is Breast Reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure that restores the appearance of one or both breasts following mastectomy, lumpectomy, or significant trauma.

Depending on your needs, it can be performed immediately after mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or delayed until after other treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy (delayed reconstruction).

Types of Breast Reconstruction We Offer

1. Implant-Based Reconstruction

  • Saline or silicone implants placed under or over the chest muscle
  • May involve tissue expansion before final placement
  • Customizable size, shape, and feel

2. Autologous Fat Grafting

  • Uses your body’s own fat (often from abdomen or thighs)
  • Creates soft, natural-feeling breast contours
  • Can be used alone or with implants to improve shape

3. Revision Breast Reconstruction

  • Improves results of previous reconstruction
  • Treats asymmetry, scarring, capsular contracture, or implant issues
  • Often includes fat grafting or implant exchange for enhanced results
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Benefits of Breast Reconstruction

  • Restores breast shape and volume after mastectomy or trauma
  • Helps clothing fit more naturally
  • Promotes body confidence and emotional healing
  • Offers customizable options tailored to your anatomy and preferences
  • Can be completed in stages for improved comfort and outcomes
  • Enhances symmetry
  • Allows reconstruction using natural fat or implants based on your goals
  • Improves posture and physical balance in some cases

"I couldn’t be happier with my experience with Dr. Gabrick! From my initial consultation to post-op care, everything was handled with professionalism, kindness, and genuine attention to detail. Dr. Gabrick took the time to truly understand the look I was going for, and the results exceeded my expectations."

Are You a Good Candidate?

You may be a candidate for breast reconstruction if:

  • You have undergone or are planning to undergo a mastectomy, lumpectomy, or oncologic breast surgery
  • You are in good overall health and are cleared by your oncology team for elective surgery
  • You have completed necessary treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, or have coordinated timing for delayed or staged reconstruction with your breast surgeon and oncology team
  • You have sufficient soft tissue coverage or are a candidate for tissue expanders, implant placement, or fat grafting, based on your skin integrity and chest wall anatomy
  • You want to revise previous reconstruction due to capsular contracture, implant rupture, asymmetry, or changes over time

Why Choose Refine Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics?

Our breast reconstruction program is led by Dr. Gabrick, a Yale- and Vanderbilt-trained plastic surgeon with specialized experience in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery. In tandem with Dr. Bryant’s commitment to aesthetic harmony and surgical artistry, our team delivers concierge-level care in a safe, supportive, judgment-free environment. Every reconstruction is approached with the same mission: to shape your body how you envision it, with dignity, beauty, and grace.

It All Starts With a Personalized Consultation

Your consultation at Refine includes:

  • A detailed medical and surgical history
  • Review of pathology, oncology, or trauma history
  • Physical examination to assess tissue, scars, and anatomy
  • Discussion of options (implant-based vs. autologous vs. revision)
  • Shared decision-making to develop a staged or immediate treatment plan

We also provide photographic simulations and work collaboratively with your oncology team to ensure continuity of care.

Cost of Breast Reconstruction

Cash-pay breast reconstruction at our practice begins at approximately $20,000 and can range up to $60,000, depending on the type of reconstruction, surgical complexity, and personalized treatment plan. A detailed estimate will be provided during your consultation.

What to Expect During Your Breast Reconstruction Procedure

Breast reconstruction is performed under general anesthesia in a fully accredited surgical facility. Depending on the approach selected—implant-based, fat grafting, or revision—your surgery may take 1 to 4 hours.

Implant-Based Reconstruction

This is the most common method and may be performed in one or two stages:

  • In a two-stage reconstruction, a tissue expander is placed beneath the chest muscle or skin at the time of mastectomy. Over the following weeks, the expander is gradually filled with saline to create space for the final implant. Once full expansion is achieved, the expander is replaced with a permanent silicone or saline implant in a second procedure.

Dr. Gabrick may also utilize a biologic mesh scaffold that reinforces the implant pocket, provides coverage, and promotes improved contour and support, especially in patients with limited soft tissue.

Fat Grafting (Autologous Fat Transfer)

  • Autologous fat grafting is a powerful technique for improving breast softness, shape, and symmetry, particularly after radiation or prior reconstruction
  • Fat is gently harvested from areas such as the abdomen, flanks, or thighs using liposuction
  • It is then purified and reinjected into targeted areas of the breast to restore volume, correct contour irregularities, and soften transitions around implants
  • Fat grafting is often performed in combination with implant-based reconstruction or during revision procedures

Latissimus Flap Breast Reconstruction

For patients seeking natural-looking breast reconstruction, the latissimus dorsi flap offers reliable, time-tested results. Using a thin, well-vascularized muscle and skin from the upper back, this technique provides soft tissue coverage that can be combined with a breast implant for enhanced volume and shape. Ideal for patients with thin skin, radiation history, or prior failed reconstruction, the latissimus flap creates a stable, elegant foundation—restoring form with strength, subtlety, and balance.

Revision Reconstruction

For patients seeking to improve or correct outcomes from previous surgeries, Dr. Gabrick offers highly customized revision breast reconstruction, which may involve:

  • Releasing capsular contracture or performing a complete capsulectomy
  • Exchanging implants for updated size, shape, or type
  • Symmetry procedures on the opposite breast for balance
  • Fat grafting to improve rippling, thin skin, or radiation effects
  • Scar revision for smoother, less noticeable healing

With Refine’s concierge-level support, you’ll be fully cared for from your first consultation through post-operative recovery and beyond.

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Recovery and Results

Recovery varies based on the type of reconstruction and your individual healing capacity. You generally expect the following:

  • Week 1–2: Swelling, bruising, and tenderness are expected. Limited physical activity.
  • Week 3–4: Gradual return to daily activities; sutures may be removed.
  • 1–3 months: Swelling subsides, results begin to settle.
  • 6–12 months: Final breast shape, softness, and symmetry achieved.

FAQs

When is the best time to get breast reconstruction—immediately or delayed?

Can both breasts be reconstructed for symmetry?

Will my reconstructed breast feel natural?

Can I breastfeed after reconstruction?

Is fat grafting permanent?

What are expanders, and do I need them?

How long is the full reconstruction process?

Can I choose my breast size?

What are the risks of breast reconstruction?

When is the best time to get breast reconstruction—immediately or delayed?

Timing depends on your cancer treatment plan, health status, and personal preference. Both immediate and delayed options can offer beautiful outcomes.

Can both breasts be reconstructed for symmetry?

Yes. Many patients choose to reconstruct one or both breasts, depending on their surgical and aesthetic goals.

Will my reconstructed breast feel natural?

While sensation may be reduced, advanced techniques like fat grafting can provide a soft, natural feel and contour.

Can I breastfeed after reconstruction?

Breastfeeding is unlikely following reconstruction, especially after mastectomy, but we’re happy to discuss your goals.

Is fat grafting permanent?

Fat grafting is long-lasting, though some of the transferred fat may be naturally reabsorbed.

What are expanders, and do I need them?

Tissue expanders stretch the skin before permanent implants are placed. They're often used when there is limited skin after a mastectomy.

How long is the full reconstruction process?

Depending on the plan, the process can take 6 months to over a year, from the first surgery to the final symmetry refinements.

Can I choose my breast size?

Absolutely. Your surgeon will help guide size selection to match your body, preferences, and reconstructive needs.

What are the risks of breast reconstruction?

Risks may include infection, implant issues (like rupture or capsular contracture), scarring, asymmetry, or fat reabsorption. We minimize risks with meticulous technique and follow-up care.

Ready to Learn More?

Our boutique practice offers a sanctuary for renewal, where your reconstruction is thoughtfully planned, precisely executed, and fully customized to reflect the best version of you. Contact Refine Facial Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics today to book your consultation.

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