A PLACE OF RESTORATION
October 11, 2018
Colonels picked to finish 4th in Southland
October 11, 2018
Houma native and dedicated-skillful surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Rau is bringing hope and joy to breast cancer patients in the Bayou Region by making them feel like themselves again through breast reconstruction surgery.
“Whenever you get cancer, it morally just breaks you down. and from a woman’s standpoint for breast cancer, you’re having a part of what makes you a woman removed,” Dr. Rau said. “So the reconstructive process is very key because you mentally beat the cancer.”
Dr. Rau explained that the breast cancer reconstruction candidate is someone who is general good healthy but has breast cancer and needs a mastectomy or lumpectomy most are able to get what’s called immediate reconstruction. Others have to get a delayed reconstruction because complications such as unhealthy akin flaps. They have to come in months later, after all of the cancer is treated.
The most nationally performed version of breast cancer reconstruction is called implant-based reconstruction, usually done during the same procedure that removes the breast After the removal of the breast by the other surgeon. Dr. Rau comes in and starts to reconstruct the breast by using a combination of some cadaver tissue with a tissue expander. He then adds air or same salt water in it and then proceeds to close up the skin The breast slowly expands until it is at a size the patient is comfortable with.
“The second stage of the surgery usually happens a few months down the road after the cancer treatment is done. We’ll take that tissue expander out and then we’ll put a very much more natural feeling silicone implant in,” explained Dr. Rau. “…Jifell do a fat graft; well take fat from the tummy and then will transfer it to the breast to give it a more oval shape because the first surgery is all about trying to maintain the volume of the breast tissue… The second stage is more of the shaping procedure-getting the implant in there and making it look more like the breast.”
The third and final stage is the nipple creation and nipple tattooing, which Dr. Rau really encourages his patients to get He explained the confidence boost that comas to the women who go through the final optional stage and describe looking down at what looks exactly like their previous breasts.
“I go through all of this with every patient I kind of cool their nerves down: it’s a lot to take in. So I say ‘It’s like when you bring your car to the car shop and it’s not working-Just tell us what’s going wrong, and we are going to fix it.. You can just take a deep breath and know that you’re in good hands. Wrecking what’s in your best interest.'” he said.
Dr. Rau is thrilled that he returned home in 2017 to be ante to perform this life-changing procedure, along with other various surgeries, to people in the community of Houma and its surrounding areas. His skills also allow him to precisely perform a significant amount of other various plastic surgeries that include male and female breast reductions, arm lifts, tummy tucks, ear reshaping and much more. For more information or to set up a consultation for breast reconstruction or other surgeries provided by Rau Plastic Surgery, visit their website at rauplastics.com.
