Breast Reconstruction Surgery
Breast cancer may require a woman to have her breast removed, leaving some to choose to have surgery to reconstruct their breasts afterward.
Women who have aggressive forms of breast cancer, or who are at high risk of developing the disease, often choose to have a mastectomy, the surgical removal of one or both breasts. During this procedure, doctors can replace any skin, breast tissue or a nipple that they may have removed during the surgery. (If you still need radiation therapy after your mastectomy, your doctor may suggest you wait for reconstructive surgery until after you finish treatment.)
Breast implants, filled with either silicone or saline, can be used to reshape your breast, or you can even use your own tissue, a procedure called flap surgery. Both breast implants and flap surgery are complex procedures, each with their own risks and may require second surgeries to position the breasts correctly. Most insurance companies will cover this type of reconstructive surgery.
Recently Answered
- Q When is breast reconstruction surgery performed?
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Dr. Stuart Linder, Plastic & Reconstructive SurgeryBreast reconstruction surgery can be performed concurrently with the mastectomy, staged, or delayed. Patients undergoing a mastectomy without radiation therapy may be a candidate for immediate implant reconstruction at the same surgical setting. Those... Full Answer
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- Q Are there disadvantages to oncoplastic surgery?
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Sometimes surgeons have difficulty preserving blood supply to the nipple during oncoplastic surgery. In these cases, a "free nipple graft" is the only way the nipple may be preserved. This involves removing the nipple and replacing it after the breast... Full Answer
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- Q Why would someone get a tummy tuck when having breast reconstruction?
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Breast reconstruction after breast cancer is tailored for the individual. In this video, Elisa Port, MD, a surgeon at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, explains why many women may opt for a tummy tuck when they have reconstruction. Full Answer
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- Q What reconstruction techniques are available after breast cancer surgery?
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Your surgeon can reconstruct your breasts in one of two ways: implants or flaps. Implants -Made out of silicone or saline or a combination of both, your surgeon can insert implants during or after a mastectomy. Your surgeon places them underneath the... Full Answer
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- Q What is breast reconstruction?
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Breast reconstruction refers to surgical methods used to rebuild the breast after mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) or to restore a normal appearance of the breasts due to inherited differences. Breast reconstruction can be achieved through many... Full Answer
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- Q Can breast cancer recur in a reconstructed breast?
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This question may be interpreted in different ways. If the question is, “Can I get a recurrent breast cancer after a mastectomy?” (regardless of whether a reconstruction was performed), then the answer technically is “yes.”... Full Answer
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- Q What is a transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap procedure?
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Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous (TRAM) flap surgery was developed decades ago and is no longer considered "state of the art" in breast reconstruction. In TRAM flap surgery, the tissue remains attached to its original site, retaining its blood... Full Answer
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- Q Will I need breast reconstruction after mastectomy?
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Breast reconstruction is like the "light at the end of the tunnel." While cancer treatment such as mastectomy is critically important for your physical health, think of reconstruction as equally important for your emotional health. A recent study from... Full Answer
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- Q What is staged breast reconstruction?
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Staged breast reconstruction rebuilds the breast in several stages to avoid complications. Doctors often advise women who need radiation therapy following mastectomy to have staged breast reconstruction, instead of simultaneous reconstruction. When a... Full Answer
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- Q Why is a deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap beneficial?
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A deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap procedure is a procedure used to reconstruct a woman's breast following cancer treatment. When the breast is reconstructed entirely with your own tissue, the results are generally more natural.... Full Answer
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