I have recently had a bilateral mastecomy due to breast cancer in my left breast. I am currently undergoing chemotherapy and will be having radiation therapy. There is much conflicting information about whether breast reconstruction with implants is recommended or even feasible after radiation therapy. I have had multiple surgeries previously, and I am concerned about having multiple surgical sites (such as those from TRAM or DIEP procedures). What are the risks of utilizing breast implants after radiation, and how long should one wait to have the implants to minimize risk (if possible to do so)?
Answers (15)
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Dear hhtw2e,
Breast reconstruction after radiation treatment can be very challenging. Although there are certainly some reports of successful reconstruction using implant based approaches, in my experience using your own tissue more consistently provides a natural appearing...
Your insurance should cover the mastectomy and reconstruction. That being said, hospital charges are much higher which allows the insurance company to negotiate pricing. For a straight breast augmentation the average is around $7000.
Radiation therapy causes fibrosis of tissue, hence the breast usually shrinks and may become slightly stiffer after radiation. So when deciding on augmentation with an implant after radiation there are several aspects to consider.
1. Implant related complications increase after...