For women who choose to have reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy, the process is often time-consuming and invasive. Now there's a new device that's helping patients bounce back, with fewer doctors appointments and less pain.
It's called the AeroForm.
Nashville plastic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Tarola is offering his patients the AeroForm device as an alternative to traditional saline injections.
Patient Beth Thompson recently beat her breast cancer. But even after her double mastectomy, her battle wasn't over.
She says reconstructive surgery is traditionally a painful process, as doctors use temporary implants and saline injections to stretch the skin and muscle around the chest wall.
"[Dr. Tarola] said 'We're gonna try something new," Thompson said.
Instead of numerous doctors appointments and more needles, the AeroForm gives patients more control during the recovery process. They can use the wireless dosage controller at home, at work or on the go. It gradually expands the tissue using small doses of carbon dioxide.
Patients can comfortably and quickly release 10cc of carbon dioxide up to three times per day to gradually inflate the expander.
Thompson says simplifying the process is a relief and she hopes the technology catches on.
Once the temporary implant is fully expanded, the device is surgically removed and replaced with a long-term breast implant. To learn more about AeroForm click here.
