How is a breast reconstruction procedure performed?

How is a breast reconstruction procedure performed?

Steve Fallek (Plastic Surgeon & Medical Director, Face Focus Medical Spa, New York City) gives expert video advice on: How is a breast reconstruction procedure performed?; Is breast reconstruction painful?; Will I have to take time off from work after getting breast reconstruction surgery? and more...

I believe that it is important that you have a conversation both with your general breast surgeon and your plastic surgeon before undergoing breast cancer surgery. Only by a healthy discussion with them can you determine what's the aproppriate treatment for you, and whether or not you are an aproppriate candidate for breast reconstruction, whether that is immediate reconstruction or delayed re-construction. Breast surgery may either be performed in an immediate reconstruction, performed at the same time as a masectomy, or as a delayed reconstruction, a few months or years after surgery. In terms of the type of breast reconstruction, your doctor will determine exactly what type of reconstruction that you need. He may choose to put an expander or breast implant in, again at that time or a later date. Alternatively, he may choose what we call autoligist reconstruction, where your own body tissue is used to help re-construct the breast. Again, that can be done either at the same time or as a delayed reconstruction.