Each year more than 254,000 American women face breast cancer.
Today, the emotional and physical results are very different from what
they were in the past. Much more is now known about breast cancer and
its treatment. New kinds of treatment as well as improved
reconstructive surgery mean that women who have breast cancer today
have better choices.
Today, more women with breast cancer choose surgery that
removes only part of the breast tissue. This may be called breast conservation surgery,
lumpectomy, or segmental
mastectomy.
But some women have a mastectomy, which means the entire breast is
removed.
Many women who have a mastectomy choose reconstructive surgery
to rebuild the shape and look of the breast.
If you are thinking about having reconstructive surgery, it's
a
good idea to talk about it with your surgeon and a plastic surgeon
experienced in breast reconstruction before your mastectomy. This lets
the surgical teams plan the treatment that is best for you, even if you decide to wait and have reconstructive surgery later.
Breast Reconstruction is very personal decision and only you can decide if the procedure is right for you.
Breast Reconstruction is a type of surgery for women who have had
a breast removed (mastectomy).
The surgery rebuilds the breast so that it is about the same size and
shape as it was before. The nipple and the darker area around the
nipple (areola)
can also be
added. Most women who have had a mastectomy can have reconstruction.
Women who have had only the part of the breast around the cancer
removed (lumpectomy)
may not need reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is done by a plastic
surgeon.
Women choose breast reconstruction for many reasons:
- to make their breasts look balanced when they are wearing a
bra
- to permanently regain their breast shape
- so they don't have to use a form that fits inside the bra
(an external prosthesis)
You will be able to see the difference between the
reconstructed
breast and the remaining breast when you are nude. But when you are
wearing a bra, the breasts should be alike enough in size and shape
that you will feel comfortable about how you look in most types of
clothes.
Your body image and self-esteem may improve after your
reconstruction surgery, but this is not always the case. Breast
reconstruction does not fix things you were unhappy about before your
surgery. Also, you may not be happy with how your breast looks and
feels after surgery. Knowing the facts
about breast reconstruction is important to deciding if the procedure is right for you.
There are many options to think about as you and your
doctors
talk about what is best for you. The reconstruction process often means
one or more operations. Talking about the benefits and risks of
reconstruction with your doctors and consulting with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon before your surgery should provide you with the information you need to determine whether breast reconstruction is right for you.
Click Here.
for more detailed information about a Breast Reconstruction consultation with Dr. Gray and to learn more about the procedure itself.
