For women who do not require breast radiation and would like to avoid a separate donor site, implant-based reconstruction is an option. Reconstruction with tissue expansion allows an easier recovery than flap procedures, but it can be more lengthy reconstruction process. It usually requires several office visits over months after placement of the expander to gradually fill the device with saline through an internal valve to expand the skin. Newer air-filled devices may allow patient-controlled expansion at home using a remote dosage controller.
A second surgical procedure will be needed to replace the expander if it is not designed to serve as a permanent implant.
A breast implant can be an addition or alternative to flap techniques. Surgeons may also use an implant as a temporary placeholder during other breast cancer treatments until you are ready for more involved flap reconstruction techniques. Saline and silicone implants are available for reconstruction. Your surgeon will help you decide what is best for you. Reconstruction with an implant alone usually requires tissue expansion.
Direct-to-implant breast reconstruction may be an option for some women undergoing mastectomy with certain tumor characteristics and breast shapes. For women who are not candidates for nipple-sparing mastectomy, breast reconstruction is completed through a variety of techniques that reconstruct the nipple and areola. Breast reconstruction uses surgery to make a new breast shape. You may have reconstruction after an operation to remove the breast mastectomy to treat breast cancer.
A new breast shape can be made using a breast implant or tissue from another part of the body. The surgeon aims to match the reconstructed breast to your other breast as much as possible. You usually need further surgery to the reconstructed breast or other breast to improve the final appearance. If you are having risk-reducing breast surgery you will have both breasts removed bilateral mastectomy. This is why we use breast s in this content. Breast reconstruction may not be suitable for some women.
This is because some medical conditions might increase the risk of complications during and after surgery. Your surgeon or nurse can tell you more about this. Women who have part of their breast removed breast-conserving surgery do not usually need breast reconstruction. But if you have a large amount of tissue removed after breast-conserving surgery you may be offered partial breast reconstruction to improve the appearance of the breast.
Before you make a decision about having breast reconstruction you will talk to your surgeon and breast care nurse. They will advise you on the types of reconstruction that are most suitable for you.
It often helps to have a list of questions to ask. Both your breast surgeon and your reconstructive surgeon will be sensitive to your thoughts and feelings about breast reconstruction. So do not be afraid to ask about anything you are concerned about. If you smoke, your surgeon will talk to you about the benefits of giving up smoking before surgery. If you smoke, you are much more likely to develop problems during breast reconstruction. Smoking damages blood vessels. People who smoke are more likely to have problems with wound healing.
They are also much more likely to have complications with breast reconstruction operations. Even if you only stop smoking for a few weeks, this will reduce the risk of complications. So if you smoke, try to stop before surgery and do not smoke during the recovery period. Can we help guide you? How does this work? Learn more. Are these recommendations helpful? Take a quick survey. Last modified on May 15, at AM. Is Breast Reconstruction Right for You? Your doctor will let you know of restrictions to your activities, such as avoiding overhead lifting or strenuous physical activities.
Don't be surprised if it seems to take a long time to bounce back from surgery — it may take as long as a year or two to feel completely healed. Generally, you'll follow up with your plastic surgeon on a yearly basis to monitor your reconstructed breast after the reconstruction is complete.
Make an appointment sooner than that, however, if you have any concerns about your reconstruction. After your breast has healed from reconstruction or mastectomy, a plastic surgeon can reconstruct a new nipple and areola. The surgeon makes a star-shaped incision to form the new nipple and then adds a tattoo to shade in the new areola. Breast reconstruction may also entail reconstruction of your nipple, if you choose, including tattooing to define the dark area of skin surrounding your nipple areola.
If you've had only one breast reconstructed, you'll need to have screening mammography done regularly on your other breast. Mammography isn't necessary on breasts that have been reconstructed. You may opt to perform breast self-exams on your natural breast and the skin and surrounding area of your reconstructed breast.
This may help you become familiar with the changes to your breast after surgery so that you can be alert to any new changes and report those to your doctor.
Keep your expectations realistic when anticipating the outcome of your surgery. Breast reconstruction surgery offers many benefits, but it won't make you look or feel exactly like you did before your mastectomy. Explore Mayo Clinic studies of tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
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This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure that restores shape to your breast after mastectomy — surgery that removes your breast to treat or prevent breast cancer. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Tissue expansion Open pop-up dialog box Close.
Tissue expansion During tissue expansion, a balloon inserted under your chest muscle is gradually filled with saline over a period of several weeks or months. Pre-pectoral breast implant Open pop-up dialog box Close. Pre-pectoral breast implant In pre-pectoral breast implant placement, the implant is placed on top of the chest pectoralis muscle. Nipple reconstruction Open pop-up dialog box Close.
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