Timing of Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction can be done immediately following mastectomy, or some time later, after the area has healed. The best time will vary from patient to patient and may be influenced by other possible treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The procedure that best suits you will depend on your age, general health, size and shape of the other breast and available body tissue.

Common Surgical Options

• Reconstruction with immediate implant insertion
• Reconstruction using tissue expanders, followed by implants
• Reconstruction using a combination of your own tissue and implants
• Reconstruction using your own tissue
• Nipple/Areolar Reconstruction
• Additional surgery to the “normal” unaffected breast

Dr Sellars does not perform any tissue transfer procedures for post mastectomy such as TRAM flaps. Dr Sellars can offer patients implant reconstruction.

If you are interested in a tissue transfer procedure such as a TRAM Flap, Dr Sellars is able to recommend other Plastic Surgeons to perform this for you.

Reconstruction immediately after mastectomy generally does not interfere with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. However some studies have suggested that implants may not be a good option for women who need radiotherapy because radiotherapy can cause the skin around the implant to tighten or shrink.

Complications of surgery and compromise of the end result increases where radiotherapy is used. This of course is balanced by the therapeutic benefit of radiotherapy.

All options carry the general risks of surgery and anaesthesia. All options have the potential problems of wound healing which vary with individual circumstances.