Better to do reconstruction at same time as mastectomy, or better to wait?

Ultimately, the decision whether to undergo immediate or delayed breast recosntruction depends on patient preference.  Certain factors, such as advanced  tumor stage and the need for radiation therapy, tend to favor delayed reconstruction to optimize oncologic and aesthetic outcomes. There is... more

In instances where the outcome of your biopsy or lumpectomy or mastectomy procedure may alter the course of your post-operative adjuvant (chemotherapy or radiation therapy) it may be wise to delay. In instances in which the survival of the skin flaps may be questionable (diabetes, smoking, multiple precvious... more

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,... more

Immediate breast reconstruction with either implants or your own tissues has several advantages: 1-The skin available after mastectomy is used immediately for reconstruction. Other wise you could loose some of the elasticity and stretch in delayed cases. 2-The psychological effect of a mastectomy is... more

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... more

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... more

Teresa, There is not one answer for this question. It really depends on your specific situation and would be best be answered by your breast surgeon. Factors which effect the answer include your stage of cancer, need for radiation or other treatment, skin envelope, etc. Good luck with your surgery.

Hello, If you have early disease without the perceived need for chemotherapy or radiation, then immediate reconstruction is probably best. Skin sparing mastectomy leads to more tissue available for reconstruction and this is particularly important if an implant-based reconstruction is planned. If you have a... more

The issue of immediate versus delayed reconstruction is very complex and has different answers for each patient. In general, the benefits of immediate reconstruction are to minimize the number of surgeries required and to soften the psychological trauma of the mastectomy. If a patient is a candidate for a... more

The benefits of having the recontruction at the same time are a better cosmetic result (the majority of the time) and an overall happier patient. Multiple studies have shown that patients who have the reconstruction done at the same time experience less depression and have greater satisfaction, as they always... more