| Breast reconstruction is a type of surgery designed | | | | consult with their doctors first: Before reconstructive |
| for women who have had a mastectomy or related | | | | surgery, consult with your doctor. Be open and |
| breast cancer-related surgical procedure. The goal of | | | | honest about your propensity to scar or bleed. |
| reconstructive breast surgery is to rebuild the breast | | | | Depending upon your situation, your doctor may |
| so that it is about the same size and shape as it was | | | | recommend various courses of action in terms of the |
| before surgery. | | | | type of surgery to be performed. |
| Most women who have undergone a mastectomy | | | | 4. Breast reconstruction restores the overall shape of |
| (full breast removal) or a lumpectomy (partial breast | | | | the breast - but not the feeling: The main goal of |
| removal) would like their breast or breasts to look | | | | breast reconstruction is to help restore the general |
| like they did before their cancer-related surgery. That | | | | shape of the breast so that it looks similar to the |
| is where breast reconstruction comes in. | | | | way it looked (at least when the patient is clothed) |
| Why Breast Cancer Final Implant Reconstructive | | | | before surgery. However, not only will the breast |
| Surgery? | | | | look different than it did before, but the woman will |
| Women choose this type of surgery for three main | | | | likely lose the feeling and sensitivity she used to have |
| reasons: to make their breasts look balanced when | | | | in that breast. |
| wearing a bra, to permanently regain breast shape, | | | | 5. If you smoke, your surgeon may ask you to quit 2 |
| and to avoid using a form - or external prosthesis - | | | | months before surgery: Quitting smoking helps |
| inside the bra. | | | | improve your body's ability to heal after surgery. |
| Here are 7 things you should know before electing to | | | | 6. Saline implants are the most common type of |
| have final implant reconstructive surgery: | | | | implant used in breast reconstruction: The silicone |
| 1. You can choose immediate or delayed | | | | "shell" or bag of a saline implant can be inserted into |
| reconstruction: Many breast cancer survivors who | | | | the body during reconstructive surgery. It is then |
| have had surgery to remove all or part of their | | | | filled with saline solution and sealed before the incision |
| breasts are given a choice by their doctor to have | | | | is closed by the doctor. |
| reconstructive surgery done at the same time. | | | | 7. Implants may not last a lifetime: As with any type |
| However, depending upon the patient's circumstances | | | | of breast implant surgery done for any reason, |
| and her own wishes - as well as her doctor's | | | | breast implants will likely not last forever. For most |
| recommendations - some women choose to put off | | | | women, within 10 years of their reconstructive |
| reconstructive surgery until a later date. | | | | surgery, their implants will likely leak or burst. This |
| 2. No type of surgery has a 100% chance of being a | | | | does not pose a danger to the woman. However, if |
| complete success: As with any type of surgery, | | | | it happens, it will require another surgery at a later |
| breast cancer final implant reconstructive surgery | | | | time to correct the problem. |
| does not always come out perfectly. There can be | | | | Reconstructive surgery for breast cancer patients is |
| complications that affect how and how fast the | | | | not without its problems or risks. However, it offers |
| breast heals, as well as how it looks. Moreover, it is | | | | breast cancer survivors the chance of having a much |
| not realistic to expect the breast to look exactly like | | | | more normal-looking breast than if only a |
| it did before the initial cancer-related breast surgery. | | | | mastectomy were performed without reconstructive |
| 3. Women who tend to bleed or scar easily should | | | | surgery. |