With so much to think about after a breast cancer diagnosis, many patients facing mastectomy do not fully understand how the timing of breast reconstruction influences how the reconstructed breasts will ultimately look.
Breast reconstruction can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy (
"immediate reconstruction") or a while after mastectomy (
"delayed reconstruction").
When the mastectomy and reconstruction are performed at the same time, a
skin-sparing mastectomy can usually be performed which saves the majority of the natural breast skin envelope (except for the nipple and areola). Only the actual breast tissue under the skin is removed. The reconstruction then "fills" this empty skin envelope. In some select cases the nipple and areola can also be saved. This is known as a
nipple-sparing mastectomy.
Skin-sparing (or nipple-sparing) mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction produce the most "natural" results with the least scarring. Skin-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction is therefore preferred whenever possible and should be the goal for breast cancer patients with early disease (stage I or II).
Delayed reconstruction unfortunately leaves more scarring (typically) and the final breast is less likely to look like the breasts Mother Nature provided. Common reasons to delay reconstruction include advanced breast cancer (stage III or IV), inflammatory breast cancer, the plan for radiation therapy after mastectomy, and lack of access to a reconstructive surgeon.
The difference in scarring between immediate and delayed breast reconstruction can be seen in these
breast reconstruction before and after photos.
Ultimately the priority must always be "life before breast" - obviously the breast cancer treatment comes first in terms of priority. However, all other things being equal, there will sometimes be a choice to be made between having the reconstruction performed
with the mastectomy or some time
after the mastectomy. Whenever possible, I encourage women to seek immediate reconstruction for the best cosmetic results.
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Dr Chrysopoulo is a board certified plastic surgeon specializing in the latest
breast reconstruction techniques including the
DIEP flap procedure. He and his partners perform over 500 DIEP flap procedures per year and are In-Network for most US insurance plans. Learn more about your
breast reconstruction options and
connect with other breast reconstruction patients here. You can also follow Dr C on
Twitter!
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