Knowing What to Ask and Planning in Advance Before Breast Reconstruction Surgery

A diagnosis of breast cancer upends a woman’s life, and forces her to make many personal, medical, and financial decisions. If a woman must undergo mastectomy, the predicament is further complicated by the decisions she must make about whether, when and how to have breast reconstruction. Many women undergoing breast reconstruction see implants as the quickest and simplest reconstructive option. Controversy about the long-term safety of implants, however, has driven more and more women to choose “autologous reconstruction,” which uses a woman’s own tissue to create a soft, warm breast that looks and feels like her original breast. “Whichever surgical option a woman chooses, she should have a thorough understanding of what to expect after surgery, when she goes home, and how her new breast will look and feel,” says plastic surgeon and breast reconstruction specialist Dr. Constance M. Chen. “Knowing what to ask and planning in advance with her surgeon before surgery should reduce the risk of surprises later.” Click HERE for the full article.