Breast Reconstruction Makes Breast Cancer Patients Whole Again After Mastectomy

Alarmingly, 70% of American women facing surgery for breast cancer are not told about the option of breast reconstruction.

Perhaps one of the best things about breast reconstruction is that it can be performed at any time….  you can never “miss the boat” so to speak. Regardless of the timing of the procedure, breast reconstruction enables women to feel whole again, not just physically but also emotionally.

There are several reconstructive options ranging from breast implants to using the patient’s own tissue. Tissue (or “flap”) procedures recreate a “natural”, warm, soft breast and are associated with fewer complications than breast implants.

Breast reconstruction can be performed at the same time as the mastectomy ("immediate reconstruction") or any time 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 most of the natural breast skin envelope. Only the actual breast tissue under the skin is removed. The reconstruction then "fills" this empty skin envelope. In some cases nipple-sparing mastectomy can be performed. This preserves the nipple and areola as well as all the breast skin.



Skin-sparing (and nipple-sparing) mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction produce the most "natural" results with the least scarring. Patients undergoing immediate reconstruction also avoid the experience of a flat chest altogether. Immediate reconstruction is therefore preferred whenever possible and should be the goal for patients with early breast cancer (stage I or II).

In some cases breast reconstruction cannot be performed at the same time as the mastectomy. Reasons 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 plastic surgeon.

As I already mentioned at the beginning of this post, most women unfortunately are not made aware of their breast reconstruction options. I therefore encourage all women interested in breast reconstruction to research their options and seek a referral or consultation with a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction.

You can see real patient results after immediate and delayed breast reconstruction in our photo gallery here.

Dr C


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PRMA Plastic Surgery specializes in advanced breast reconstruction procedures that use the patient's own tissue. Procedures offered include the DIEP flap, SIEA flap, GAP flap, and TUG flap reconstruction. We are In-Network for most US insurance plans. Patients are routinely welcomed from across and outside the USA. Connect with other breast cancer reconstruction patients at www.facebook.com/PRMAplasticsurgery.

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Tammy's Breast Reconstruction Journey. Part I - My Breast Cancer Diagnosis

By Tammy Carrington

My name is Tammy and I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS) in June 2009. I underwent bilateral mastectomy and immediate reconstruction with DIEP flaps. I believe it is important to share my story on how I made my decision because when I was looking for information on other women’s experiences, it was hard to find. If I can help even one woman feel peaceful about making her own decision, then it was worth it all. That’s part of this process… reaching out and helping others who are behind us in the journey.

My nature is to research things completely so that I can make informed decisions. I am the mom to a severely brain injured little boy who is now 12 years old and I’ve spent lots of time over the years looking for information on how to help him to get better and have spent more than 20 years in the medical field as well.

My Breast Cancer Diagnosis:

My diagnosis came as a complete shock to me. I am sure it’s a shock to anyone who hears it for the first time, but somehow I never thought I would be hearing those words associated with me. I just remember how numb I felt when I heard the “C” word… CANCER.

I had no signs or symptoms to indicate that there was any type of problem. I went in for my routine annual mammogram and they asked me to return for an ultrasound of my breast. Having me return was not an unusual request because I have had fibrocystic breast tissue and it had almost become routine for me to have to return. They would always do an ultrasound where they could see the cysts and then I would then be sent on my merry way.

This year was different.

They called me back for the ultrasound but also wanted to do some spot compression views so they could look more closely at an area of my breast where they wanted to see more detail. The doctor told me that radiologists are trained to look for microcalcifications when they view mammograms. My mammogram showed some microcalcifications and this time I was told to follow up in 6 months to see if there were any changes in my breast during that time.

My gut feeling told me that I didn’t want to wait 6 months, so my physician sent me to a local surgeon and he decided to do a stereotactic breast biopsy right away. The results were back quickly and I was diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). I had breast cancer.

Time to get over the shock…

Tammy's Breast Reconstruction Journey. Part 2 - Making The Decision

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