Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction is a type of surgery that aims to restore one or both breasts back to near normal size, shape, and appearance following a mastectomy.

By undergoing breast reconstruction surgery, you can:

• Regain your self-esteem and femininity
• Make your breasts look balanced
• Avoid having to use an external prosthesis
• Eliminate the constant reminder of your breast cancer ordeal
• Find closure and achieve a sense of normality

Breast reconstruction surgery can be performed with many variations and specialized techniques. You and your doctor may choose to:

• Take skin, tissue, fat, and muscle from different areas of your body to rebuild and shape the breasts.
• Use a tissue expander, breast implant, or a combination of both. At Arkansas Plastic Surgery, we use both saline and silicone implants for your breast reconstruction and we offer many sizes and shapes from multiple manufacturers (Mentor, Allergan).

We can also provide reconstruction of your nipple and areola after your breast reconstruction. This is a minor outpatient procedure, and nipple tattooing is performed in the office. These procedures may be combined to help recreate a natural size, shape, projection, and color of the nipple and areola.

If only one breast needs to be reconstructed, your surgeon may recommend a breast augmentation, breast lift, or breast reduction on the opposite breast to achieve proper size and position symmetry between your natural breast and the reconstructed breast.

Most women that have undergone a mastectomy are eligible for breast reconstruction surgery. An ideal candidate will be someone who is generally healthy with no medical conditions that would impair healing after treatment. We also encourage our candidates to have positive but realistic expectations of the results.

Reconstruction may begin immediately at the time of your mastectomy or it may be delayed until you, your plastic surgeon, and your oncologist agree that the time is right.

Whether or not the time is right for you will depend upon a number of factors, such as the amount of available tissue, the stage of cancer, and your general health.

Your recovery will depend on the techniques that you and your surgeon choose. You can generally return to normal activities within 14 days. We even encourage you to become mobile as soon as possible (without straining or hurting yourself) so that your body can better circulate blood, decreasing the risk of blood clot related complications.

You may experience soreness, swelling, and bruising for a few weeks following the procedure, which can be controlled by a prescription of pain medication.

Most patients can return to their full regular routine within approximately 4 weeks.

In the state of Arkansas, if a health benefit plan provides coverage for mastectomy surgery, they should also provide coverage for breast reconstruction. Insurance companies should cover most or all of the different types of reconstruction as well.

Speak with your insurance provider to see if you qualify.

Yes, we will try to make them as symmetrical as possible.

We encourage our patients to expect improvement, not perfection. When trying to match a natural and a reconstructed breast, there will likely be aesthetic differences between the two. However, for many women undergoing reconstruction of either one or both breasts, additional visits can yield satisfying results.

Only trained surgeons, like at Arkansas Plastic Surgery, can provide outstanding improvement and symmetry during breast reconstruction. Contact us to learn more.