Could 3D technology replace breast reconstruction post-mastectomy?

At the end of 2020, 7.9 million women had been diagnosed with breast cancer over the previous five years, making it the most prevalent cancer globally.

About one in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. 

The best chance for a positive outcome in the case of breast cancer is a mastectomy, which is a surgical removal of one or both breasts.

For many women, the loss of one or both breasts to cancer can cause feelings of hopelessness, body incompleteness, social inconvenience, a lack of confidence and a loss of sensuality. 

A growing number of women are choosing to wear prosthetics rather than undergoing an additional surgery to reconstruct their breasts. This is where new technologies come in to help post-mastectomy cancer women.

Julien Montenero, a French prosthetist, created a personalised breast prothesis, identifying 3D technologies as the best to do so. 

A year ago Julien started working with Boreal, a technical consultancy service that introduced him to 3D scanners from Artec 3D.

Florian Goussu, sales technician at Boreal, explained: “With the use of 3d technology in reconstructive surgery, epithetists now have a range of digital tools such as Artec 3D scanners that allow them to quickly and efficiently duplicate limbs or organs. These operations give patients the courage and strength to face the world around them.”

More and more medical companies are putting high hopes in 3D scanning for prosthetics. Seen as the next revolution in medicine, 3D devices bring the next-gen practices and technologies to underprivileged families, those who suffered in conflict, or – like in this case – cancer survivors.

Montenero’s usual workflow with 3D scanners involves scanning a breast before the mastectomy, processing the 3D scan data to prepare a 3D model, and 3D printing a mold. From the mold, a prototype is created with the use of special medical silicone. 

After the mastectomy, the patient can use this prototype while waiting for the final prothesis to be designed, with the nipple (or freckles and birthmarks if needed) made to match the second breast. 

“The goal is to reach the same density as the other breast, to avoid any discomfort and imbalance,” said Montenero.