You should be congratulated on your courage. I had a lady who presented 3 years after having her mastectomy and failing an immediate tissue expander reconstruction with another surgeon. You may understand how angry, nervous and hopeful she was. We spent three visits discussing what was done, what she perceived went wrong and what she wished to achieve. I requested that she consult an Infectious disease specialist after she disclosed that her invalid mother, for whom she was principal caretaker had a history of MRSA.
Based on history, the ID specialist cultured both her and her mother and diagnosed them as carriers of MRSA. He prescribed a course of antibiotics and repeated the nasal swab cultures, in anticipation of her surgery. I wish I could tell you that her reconstruction is complete and everything she desired. After this, she decided that she was not emotionally or psychologically ready to undertake delayed breast reconstruction. I fully agreed with her decision.
Yes. If reconstruction is important to you, get recommendations from ASPS and/or your PCP, interview various plastic surgeons and make sure they "hear and understand" your hopes and expectations. Good luck.
