When should I have Breast Surgery?

Breast Surgery or Reconstruction can be performed at almost any time. Immediate breast reconstruction is done along with the mastectomy. Your mastectomy will be performed to compliment your reconstructive procedure. The mastectomy incision is more conservative to support the cosmetic reconstructive result, so scarring is minimized, and much of the skin remains to hold the new breast.

When the breast surgeon finishes the mastectomy (while you’re still asleep), the plastic surgeon reconstructs the breasts that have just been removed. Immediate reconstruction has several benefits: although the process may not be completed at this stage, you wake up from mastectomy with new breasts in place, thereby avoiding additional operations, more general anesthesia and recovery at a later date.

Although most women are candidates for immediate reconstruction, it is not recommended when a patient has inflammatory carcinoma or widely metastatic disease that is not controlled by chemotherapy.

When immediate reconstruction is not performed after mastectomy, delayed reconstruction can be done weeks, months, or years thereafter. Women who must postpone reconstruction until chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment has been completed, or women who have had mastectomies in the past and have perhaps changed their mind about reconstruction can also have their breasts recreated.

Delayed reconstruction may also be appropriate if you don’t want to make decisions about reconstruction at the time of your mastectomy. After delayed reconstruction, the mastectomy scar remains on the new breast, but fades considerably in time.

Whatever you decide about reconstruction, be sure to work with your doctor to understand the pros and cons of all options available to you, so you can make the choice that is right for you.