A FURTHER LOOK INTO BREAST RECON
WHO CAN HAVE BREAST RECONSTRUCTION
People who can undergo breast reconstruction:
-Have been diagnosed with breast cancer and had or will have a mastectomy
-Have been diagnosed with breast cancer and had or will have a breast conservation surgery, such as a partial mastectomy or lumpectomy
-Have been found to have a genetic mutation and will have prophylactic masectomy
​
There are many different options for breast reconstruction. Surgeons can recreate a breast at the time of mastectomy of after you have had a mastectomy. They can also correct misshapen breasts that may result after breast conservation surgery.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Some patients may decide against undergoing breast reconstruction, for several reasons.  Many choose to wear a prosthesis, which is an artificial device to replace the missing breast.  This allows for normalcy in clothing fit, and reduces the lop-sided feel and look that a breast or breast tissue may create after their breast cancer surgery.
WHEN?
Most breast reconstructions can be done at the time as the mastectomy, which is called immediate reconstruction. Reconstruction can also be done later, which is called delayed reconstruction. It can be performed week, months, or even years later. It is done after breast cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation has been completed, of when you have decided that you want reconstruction.
​
The choice to have immediate versus delayed reconstruction depends on many factors including:
-Breast cancer stage
-Your medical condition
-Your preference and lifestyle
-Additional therapies needed to treat the breast cancer
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF IMMEDIATE AND DELAYED RECONSTRUCTION
Immediate
Advantages: less risk of social or emotional difficulties, better cosmetic results, possible less surgery and lower cost
Disadvantages: harder to detect mastectomy flap neurosis (when the skin remaining has problems with blood supply), longer time spent in the hospital than having mastectomy alone
​
Delayed
Advantages: Adjuvant therapy (treatments such as radiation) does not cause problems to the reconstruction site, gives patient more time to think about reconstructive options
Disadvantages: Mastectomy scar on chest wall, requires additional surgery and recovery time, harder to reconstruct after scarring occurs, less optimal cosmetic results
