What are the benefits of having breast reconstruction at the same time as mastectomy, and in which situations would it be recommended to postpone reconstruction?
Teresa,
There is not one answer for this question. It really depends on your specific situation and would be best be answered by your breast surgeon. Factors which effect the answer include your stage of cancer, need for radiation or other treatment, skin envelope, etc. Good luck with your surgery.
I think it is better to have reconstruction at the same time if possible. This is because you can compare what you have removed to what you are adding, and also can perform the reconstruciton with more supple tissue that is not scarred down. I would postpone it if the patient has a very large tumor, metastatic disease ( not just in the axillary nodes), and those that require radiation.
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