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Breast Reconstruction

Reconstruction of the breast is usually needed after the breast has been removed due to breast cancer or other disease, eg. severe fibrocystic disease, or due to severe distortion of the breast secondary to trauma or a burn. It is now possible with the new surgical techniques to create a breast that can closely look and feel like the natural breast.

With the rising awareness of the possibility to reconstruct the breast immediately after cancer surgery, more patients are now requesting breast reconstruction immediately following their breast removal. This option however is not the best for every patient but you should discuss it with your plastic surgeon.

Breast reconstruction has no known effect on the recurrence of cancer in the breast. It should not interfere with either the chemotherapy or radiation treatment if you have cancer recurrence. If you have an implant with your reconstruction, some interference with the reading of your mammogram may require that you take special views mammogram and/or extra radiological procedures like ultrasound, to examine your breasts.

Breast reconstruction is usually performed in a hospital. General anaesthesia is usually used for this procedure.

Like any surgical procedure, there are some risk and possible complications involved. Discuss these risks and complications in details with your plastic surgeon.

There are many options for reconstruction that your surgeon will discuss with you.

Options:

Skin Expansion: Skin expansion and insertion of an implant.

Flap reconstruction: This procedure involves creation of a skin flap using your own tissue taken from the back, abdomen, or buttocks, etc. In some of these cases you will not need an implant, as the bulk of the muscle or fat, taken in your flap, will give you the fullness you need for the newly constructed breast.

Follow-up procedures: These will be needed to reconstruct the nipple and the areola, modify the shape or size of the other breast, or replace a tissue expander with an implant. Your surgeon will explain to you the details of these follow up procedures

Your hospital stay will vary but could be one to five days. You may need about six weeks of recovery before going back to work.

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Last modified: February 13, 2004