Hi,
The priority of all doctors is to treat your breast cancer; reconstruction always is a secondary concern. That being said, in the vast majority of patients, immediate breast reconstruction not only is safe, but ultimately leads to better reconstructive results.
For many patients. immediate reconstruction consists of tissue expander placement. This prevents the breast skin envelope from fully contracting and preserves the inframammary fold (fold below the breast) during subsequent chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Once all other treatment is completed, the final reconstruction can be performed, which may involve a permanent breast implant or the patient's own tissue.
In patients who clearly will not need postoperative radiation therapy, immediate reconstruction can proceed with a permament breast implant, tissue expander, or the patient's own tissue (autologous tissue reconstruction). Radiation therapy can cause fibrosis (scarring) of tissue and plastic surgeons therefore like to defer autologous tissue reconstruction until a time that they can be confident that it will not be irradiated.
So, in summary, immediate breast reconstruction is a safe option; do not feel as though you are compromising your cancer treatment by having it done.
Best of luck.
Contact the doctor
