Reconstructive surgery

Reconstructive surgery
After having a mastectomy (or some breast-conserving surgeries), a woman might want
to consider having the breast mound rebuilt; this is called breast reconstruction. These
procedures are done to restore the breast's appearance after surgery.
If you are thinking about having reconstructive surgery, it is a good idea to talk about it
with your surgeon and a plastic surgeon experienced in breast reconstruction before your
cancer surgery. This will allow you to consider all reconstruction options. You’ll want
your breast surgeon and your plastic surgeon to work together to come up with a
treatment plan that will put you in the best possible position for reconstruction in case
you decide to pursue it, even if you want to wait and have reconstructive surgery later.
Decisions about the type of reconstruction and when it will be done depend on each
woman's medical situation and personal preferences. You may have a choice between
having breast reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy (immediate
reconstruction) or at a later time (delayed reconstruction). There are several types of
reconstructive surgery. Some use saline (salt water) or silicone implants, while others use
tissues from other parts of your body (called an autologous tissue reconstruction).
To learn about different reconstruction options, see our document, Breast Reconstruction
After Mastectomy. You may also find it helpful to talk with a woman who has had the
type of reconstruction you might be considering. Our Reach To Recovery volunteers can
help you with this. You can find out more about our Reach To Recovery program on
cancer.org or by calling 1-800-227-2345.