Breast Reconstruction: Q&A
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Breast Reconstruction Options
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?
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29 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Eva S
in Seattle, WA
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Immediate vs. Delayed Reconstruction
Immediate reconstruction generally facilitates a more elegant cosmetic result. But to determine if you are a candidate for immediate reconstruction will depend on your tumor biology, the need for radiation, and your overall health status. Delayed reconstruction is always an option (delaying your reconstruction until all your cancer care is complete). For patients who are not sure if they will need radiation, a newer modality is also available called the delayed-immediate...
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Immediate Reconstruction vs. Delayed Reconstruction
Most patients are candidates for immediate breast reconstruction. If you definitely need radiation treatment, you should consider delaying your breast reconstruction until after your treatment is complete.
For most other patients, immediate breast reconstruction have several advantages including:
1. Few surgeries and anesthetics
2. Improved Cosmetic Outcome
3. Smaller Scars
4. Psychologic Benefit / Impact
To learn more about the difference between...
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You and your surgeon will have to decide
Immediate breast reconstruction (at the time of mastectomy) has several advantages; it saves a surgery, the aesthetic results are better, there are psychologic advantages as well. Some complications, wound healing and infection rates are slightly higher with immediate reconstruction.
There are times when immediate reconstruction is not feasible and delayed would be better. Not everyone is a candidate for this. You and your surgeon will decide this.
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Either approach can work well
Teresa,
This is a great question, and I imagine you will see lots of different answers to it. Some plastic surgeons will only perform a delayed reconstruction (postponed until after all of your breast cancer treatments are complete) while others offer immediate reconstruction to their patients.
In my practice, I will offer an immediate procedure to women who desire an immediate reconstruction, who are in overall good health and don't smoke, and who do not have advanced disease which would...
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Breast reconstruction options
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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Immediate versus Delayed Reconstruction
Immediate reconstruction after skin sparing mastectomy is by far the best way to get the most natural result possible. The only time I recommend waiting is if the patient requires postoperative radiation therapy and even then it is not a hard and fast rule. You will always get a better result with immediate reconstruction.
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Choosing breast reconstruction - details to consider
If you choose reconstruction, there are several details to consider. Reconstruction can be performed at the same time as your mastectomy (immediate reconstruction), or it can be performed at any time in the future following your mastectomy (delayed reconstruction). After any type of breast reconstruction, plans may be made to reconstruct a nipple and areola complex in the future. This may be performed at any time after a few months from your final reconstructive procedure. The breast...
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Immediate vs Delayed Breast Reconstruction
Immediate breast reconstruction makes the most sense for most as it eliminates the need for another surgical procedure and often results in a better final result. On the other hand, if the pathology of the specimen is in question and there is a potential for additional soft tissue removal then reconstruction should wait until this issue is resolved.
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Breast reconstruction options
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States today. About 1 in 8 women in the United States (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. There are many ways to treat breast cancer, and the conversation about your treatment may include discussion of chemotherapy before or after surgical treatment and radiation. When considering surgical treatment of the disease, however, the two options for...
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Breast reconstruction
In selected women, breast reconstruction may be performed at the time of mastectomy (known as immediate reconstruction). In some circumstances, breast reconstruction is performed on a delayed basis-this may be due to uncertainty of the cancer margins following mastectomy, or the need for post-mastectomy radiation therapy.
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
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