What Does a Reconstructed Breast Look Like?

Different types of breast reconstruction include implants and autologous (your own) tissue.  Reconstructions using your own tissue, like DIEP (deep inferior epigastric perforator) flaps and free ms-TRAM flaps reconstruct the breast using warm, soft natural tissue from a site on your body that has excess skin and fat, typically the lower abdomen.  Because the breast is remade using your own tissue, it can feel and look very natural.  Implants, for certain individuals, can be an excellent option.  However, though implants can appear aesthetically pleasing, it is more challenging to achieve symmetry with a natural breast and to achieve a natural texture using an implant than natural tissue.

That is a very good question.  There are many variables to answer that.  Much of how well a breast can be reconstructed is dependent on what tissue is left over after mastectomy.  The more aggressive the mastectomy the more difficult reconstruction can be.  Depending on what is expected you Plastic Surgeon may elect to use a tissue expander and implant based reconstruction or Autologous tissue.  Autologous tissue is using part of your own body to recreate a breast.  This is typically from your abdomen or your back.  You can really have great results with either form of reconstruction from an experienced surgeon.  What's great is that there has been more and more focus on bringing concepts from aesthetic breast surgery to reconstructive surgery, and patients have benefiting greatly from this.I hope this helps :)