Breast reconstruction is achieved through several plastic surgery techniques that attempt to restore a breast to near normal shape, appearance and size following mastectomy.
Although breast reconstruction can rebuild your breast, the results are highly variable:
A note about symmetry: If only one breast is affected, it alone may be reconstructed. In addition, a breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation may be recommended for the opposite breast to improve symmetry of the size and position of both breasts.
How Good Is Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy
- A reconstructed breast will not have the same sensation and feel as the breast it replaces.
- Visible incision lines will always be present on the breast, whether from reconstruction or mastectomy.
- Certain surgical techniques will leave incision lines at the donor site, commonly located in less exposed areas of the body such as the back, abdomen or buttocks.
But are there any disadvantages to a Brazilian laser hair removal procedure? Compared to other hair removal methods, the disadvantages of this procedure are very minimal while the advantages are significantly better than the others. Brazilian laser hair removal offers a non-invasive, painless, and effective way to get rid of unwanted body hair.
Are there Any Disadvantages to a Brazilian Laser Hair Removal?
Aesthetic treatments and procedures are available to help you maintain your hygiene and overall appearance. But like any other procedures, this method still has its own disadvantages such as the following:
- Multiple sessions. The treatment requires a patient to complete multiple sessions to achieve the best results, similar to other alternatives. Depending on how much pubic hair you have, your sessions may be less frequent with Brazilian laser hair removal than Brazilian wax.
- Permanent hair removal results aren’t guaranteed. The possibility of your pubic hair growing back depends on how your hair follicle responds to the lasers, so it may not result in permanent hair reduction. In most cases, this treatment doesn’t result in permanent hair removal but they last longer than other alternatives.
- Expensive treatment sessions. Each session of Brazilian laser hair removal is expensive compared to other alternative Brazilian hair removals. However, the alternatives require more frequent sessions to maintain your hairless intimate area so those methods are actually more expensive in the long run.
- Risky for patients with a darker skin tone. The heat from lasers targets pigments to remove hair effectively. Since patients with darker skin tones have dark pigments, their skin may also absorb more laser heat compared to lighter-skinned patients, which can result in discoloration. However, the risk of this incident is low if high-quality equipment is used for your Brazilian laser hair removal treatment.
- Patients with light-colored hair may experience different results. Because laser hair removal works by targeting pigment, laser hair removal may be less effective on a patient with light-colored hair. Fortunately, using advanced and powerful laser machines may contribute to enhancing the treatment’s effectiveness on light-colored hair.
- Risk of skin damage. Like Brazilian hair removal alternatives, laser hair removal may cause skin damage. Because it heats hair to remove each hair follicle, the risk of skin damage is included in this treatment. The risk of skin drying out is also possible with laser hair removal. However, skin damage caused by this method isn’t permanent and proper aftercare remedies may quickly resolve these temporary damages.
In the long run, Brazilian laser hair removal is still more effective and less invasive compared to other treatments. Summarized in the table below are the disadvantages of Brazilian laser hair removal and how these compare with the alternative Brazilian hair removal treatments.
| Brazilian Laser Hair Removal | Alternative Methods |
| Requires multiple sessions | Requires more frequent sessions to remove unwanted hair |
| Permanent hair removal results aren’t guaranteed but this laser treatment requires less maintenance sessions | Permanent results aren’t guaranteed and these treatments require monthly or twice a month sessions, which are more frequent than laser hair removal |
| Expensive treatment sessions | Affordable treatment sessions, but expensive in the long run due to the frequency of maintenance sessions |
| Risky for patients with a dark skin-tone, and may be less effective for patients with light-colored hair. But using the right equipment, the safety and effectiveness of the laser treatment may be secured | Skin tone and hair color is irrelevant when it comes to the effectiveness of alternative methods |
| Risk of temporary, minimal skin damage which may be remediated by proper aftercare habits | Risk of greater skin damage and discoloration that may last longer than laser hair removal. These treatments may also result in some residue of unwanted hair that may cause ingrown hair growth |
How Long Does Laser Hair Removal Treatment Last
The decision to have breast reconstruction surgery is extremely personal. You’ll have to decide if the benefits will achieve your goals and if the risks and potential complications are acceptable.
Your plastic surgeon and/or staff will explain in detail the risks associated with surgery. You will be asked to sign consent forms to ensure that you fully understand the procedures you will undergo and any risks or potential complications.
The possible risks of breast reconstruction include, but are not limited to, bleeding, infection, poor healing of incisions, and anesthesia risks. You should also know that:
- Flap surgery includes the risk of partial or complete loss of the flap and a loss of sensation at both the donor and reconstruction site.
- The use of implants carries the risk of breast firmness (capsular contracture) and implant rupture.
Breast implants do not impair breast health. Careful review of scientific research conducted by independent groups such as the Institute of Medicine has found no proven link between breast implants and autoimmune or other systemic diseases. Visit breastimplantsafety.org for current information.
Where will my surgery be performed?
Surgery for your breast reconstruction is most often performed in a hospital setting, possibly including a short hospital stay, and your doctor will likely use general anesthesia.
Some follow-up procedures may be performed on an outpatient basis, and local anesthesia with sedation may be used.
These decisions will be based on the requirements of your specific procedure and in consideration of your preferences and your doctor’s best judgment.