Is Breast Reconstruction an Option For You?

Women who are facing a radical mastectomy may also be looking for a plastic surgeon for reconstruction surgery.  The breast is an intimate part of a woman’s self-esteem and the decision on whether to have reconstruction surgery is an important one.  Many questions need to be answered before you decide if breast reconstruction is the right move for you.  Questions on the safety of silicone implants, how you will look, when you can have your surgery and many others may have a bearing on your decision.  Reconstruction will sometimes depend on your age, body type, and the breast surgery you are having. 

Reconstruction surgery can often be done with the cancer surgery, or it can be done later when you have had a chance to think about your options.  If you decide to have reconstruction surgery, you will need to talk to a plastic surgery about the surgery and what you can expect from it. 

Several methods of reconstruction surgery are available.  A woman may have a silicone or saline implant placed in the breast.  Your doctor will help you decide if silicone implants are safe.  They are under review by the Food and Drug Administration because of problems about leakage of the silicone. 

Reconstruction can also be done with transplanted fat and muscles from other areas of the body such as the back, buttocks, or the lower abdomen.  The surgeon takes these muscles and fats and creates a breast shape to put on the chest area.  A flap is another way to carry out creating a breast.  The skin is gradually stretched in the chest area to allow any implant that is being used.  After the area has had a chance to heal, a nipple can be tattooed on the breast to make it more correct.

There are some cons to having breast construction surgery.  The rebuilt breast will not have the same sensation as before, and when you have any surgery, there is always a chance of infection of excessive bleeding.  You may question what you will look like after surgery, what your scars will look like, and where they will be.  If skin is taken from another part of the body, what will the effects be at the donor site?  Will there be permanent change at the donor location? 

You may want to question how many surgeries will be needed for breast reconstruction.  Will you be able to return to normal activities, and if so, when?  What about follow-up care, who will take care of you?  You also will want to weigh the risks involved during the surgery and later. 

One last item we may need to think about before having reconstruction surgery is the cost.  You will need to verify that your insurance provider will cover the cost of this surgery.  Not every woman will decide to have reconstruction surgery.  Many kinds of prosthesis and special undergarments are made to help women who have had breast cancer surgery.  Your doctor can help you decide if you are a good candidate for breast reconstruction surgery.