Mastectomy and breast reconstruction - Can the procedures be combined?

My mom gets really painful cysts in her breasts constantly.  It's not cancer, but she is tired of having tons of biopsies and plans to have a mastectomy later this year.  From what I recall when my grandmother (my dad's mom) had a mastectomy due to breast cancer, she had to wait some time before having the breast reconstruction.  But I was wondering if there is any way the two procedures could be done in succession, during the same surgery session, in cases like this where there is no breast cancer involved.

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6 answers to “Mastectomy and breast reconstruction...”

A: immediate breast reconstruction gives the best results

Joseph Perlman, MD

From a reconstructive surgery standpoint, immediate breast reconstruction is much easier technically ,since the wounds are fresh and you're not dealing with scar tissue. Not everyone is a candidate for immediate breast reconstruction, especially patients who had been irradiated or are being scheduled for... more

A: Immediate Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

C. Bob Basu, MD

Immediate Reconstruction following mastectomy usually yields the best results.   Reconstruction after mastectomy must be covered by insurance thanks to the only health care mandate that is federal law (1998 federal law). Since her mastectomy will most likely not require radiation treatment, immediate... more

A: Immediate breast reconstruction is becoming standard of care

Thomas P. Sterry, MD, MS

You are quite right. In the "old days" we used to think that patients needed to wait to be reconstructed because of fears about recurrent cancer. That has proven to be an unwarranted concern and it is now typical for the reconstruction to begin right away. As a matter of fact, in this case it is the... more

A: Immediate breast reconstruction

Steven H. Schuster, MD

 Now a days, it is very common to have immediate reconstruction following a breast removal.  In your mom's case she would probably be seen by a general surgeon or breast surgeon who would do the removal and then immediately after the removal would have the reconstruction.  Very often no expander... more

A: Immediate breast reconstruction is preferred

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Immediate reconstruction following mastectomy is preferred since it preserves skin if necessary, reduces scarring, reduces time to completion and number of procedures, and obviated problems associated with delayed reconstruction. However, your general surgeon, if he/she is doing the mastectomy, needs to... more

A: The two procedures can be done at the same time. In a...

Robert W. Kessler, MD

The two procedures can be done at the same time. In a cancer operation not only is the breast tissue removed but the skin is removed as well. In that situation, the reconstructive surgeon may elect to place a tissue expander to stretch the skin over time and return at a later date to place the permanent breast... more

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