Breast Reconstruction in Houston, Texas (TX)
Breast reconstruction is a type of cosmetic surgery usually used to replace a breast or breasts after mastectomy. Surgeons can't exactly re-create the breast; the new breast won't function in the same way that the original breast did, and it won't be as sensitive as the original breast. The new breast should, however, look and feel the same as the original breast.
The breast reconstruction procedure is generally performed by using a breast implant to reconstruct the missing breast. Sometimes, tissues from the patient's own body are used. Tissue, including fat and skin, may be taken from the buttocks, belly or back. Incisions are generally visible on the new breast, and may also be visible on the belly, back or buttocks (wherever tissue grafts were taken).
A complete breast reconstruction often involves multiple procedures. The breast itself is generally formed from an implant or from tissue grafts; afterward, nipple reconstruction may be necessary, depending on the extent of the patient's mastectomy.
In many cases, breast reconstruction involves cosmetic surgery to both breasts. This may be true if a mastectomy of both breasts was performed. More often, however, slight alterations to the size and shape of the other breast are necessary. Ideally, both breasts should be similar in size and shape.
Some types of breast reconstruction surgery require lengthy hospitalization. Recovery from breast reconstruction can take several weeks, depending on the extent of the reconstruction.
About Kristi Hustak MD
Dr. Hustak was born on an Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona. Her mother worked as a surgical first assist for an aesthetic plastic surgeon. At 14, Dr. Hustak eagerly watched her first surgery, sparking her passion for the field of medicine.
Dr. Hustak’s training started in Ohio where she lived for 8 years. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with Distinction in Medical Technology from The Ohio State University in 2004. She subsequently enrolled in medical school and completed a medical mission in Trujillo, Peru, where she expanded her international surgical interests. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2008, Dr. Hustak married her best friend and classmate, Dr. Erik Hustak, and settled in Texas. Together, they have three beautiful children who enrich their lives daily.
For 6 years, Dr. Hustak completed a highly competitive integrated plastic surgery program at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas. She currently holds appointments at several Houston hospitals, including several through the Memorial Hermann System and St. Joseph Medical Center.
Dr. Hustak’s commitment to excellence in the field of plastic surgery is evident. She is an active clinical faculty member in plastic surgery and trains residents from several local academic medical centers in the Houston area as they learn both cosmetic and reconstructive principles. She also serves as a faculty member in the physician healing track at the University Texas Medical Branch, mentoring medical students in the development of their professional identity as doctors and healers.
She is an Assistant Program Director for the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery Aesthetic Fellowship, which started in 2016. She is a local authority and national speaker on female genital rejuvenation. She is sought after to share her expertise as an invited speaker for local and national conferences. She has developed several innovative techniques in the field and continues to write and publish, along with her ACPS colleagues, on ways to make procedures better and safer for patients.
Featured Specialist for Breast Reconstruction in Houston, TX
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