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What's the Average Recovery Time of Breast Reconstruction for a Mastectomy?

asked 9 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 470 times
Tags: breasts, breast size, duration, mastectomy, reconstructive, recovery, statistics, surgery

8 answers to What's the Average Recovery Time of Breast Reconstruction for a Mastectomy?

+1

Breast Reconstruction

This varies a lot depending on what procedures have been done before, and whether any complications have been present in the area. Four to six weeks and out to 8 weeks is not uncommon to have activities altered due to surgery and recovery.
Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reconstruction Recovery

Recovery depends on the options you chose. We provide tissue or implant reconstruction. The rate limiting factors are body habitus, cancer stage, and patient preference. Implant reconstruction involves a 1 week recovery, whereas tissue (DIEP/TRAM/GAP) recovery is about 2-3 weeks. It is important to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon with a special interest in breast cancer reconstruction, who is experienced in providing all these... more
Paul S. Gill, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reconstruction recovery

Recovery from breast reconstruction really varies depending upon the typw of procedure you had done. A tissue expander insertion recovery(1-2 wks) is alot easier than a TRAM or Free Flap like a (DIEP or free TRAM)( 2-3 wks).
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

What's the Average Recovery Time of Breast Reconstruction for a Mastectomy?

Dr Rand is correct. Recovery depends upon which reconstructive option is used in your case. The longer the surgery time the longer the recovery on average.
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

It will depend on the type of reconstruction

You will have faster recovery with tissue expander and implant reconstruction. The concern with the implant breast reconstruction is the quality of the breast reconstruction and capsular contracture.I offer my patient DIEP flap and the recovery is about 10 days.
Kamran Khoobehi, MD

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery after breast reconstruction quickest with implant

The quickest recovery after breast reconstruction is with an implant, usually supported by a acellular dermal matrix internal bra. In the best case scenario, a skin and nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate "direct-to-implant" reconstruction gets everything done in one operation with a short recovery. Next best is skin-sparing mastectomy with a tissue expander, which would be followed a few months later with a short outopatient operation to exchange the expander for a permanent... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery time after breast cancer reconstruction

There is no exact answer to this question because breast reconstruction can be done in so many different ways and usually involves a few stages before completion. Good luck with this and make sure to go to a doctor who can offer you ALL of the techniques including microsurgical flaps so that the exact right operation for you can be selected.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery Time After Mastectomy/ Reconstruction Varies

After a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, the recovery time is extremely variable. If the reconstruction is a tissue expander/implant reconstruction, then a patient may feel pretty good after a week or so. However, if the reconstruction involves using a patient's own tissue ( a TRAM, latissimus, DIEP, or SIEA flap), then the recovery is longer, sometimes a month or more. Each patient is different in terms of their healing time and their pain tolerance, but these are... more
Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD

Barrington Plastic Surgeon

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