Breast Reconstruction

Breast reconstruction surgery is a plastic surgery procedure that is done to restore the natural appearance of the breast following a mastectomy. Breast reconstruction is sometimes done during the mastectomy procedure. Other times, it is not done until after mastectomy recovery.

Breast Reconstruction Techniques
If you still have enough skin tissue after your mastectomy to cover a breast implant, breast reconstruction is done using a traditional breast augmentation procedure. If you do not have enough skin tissue to support a breast implant, you will need a flap technique or tissue expansion.

During a flap technique, skin, fat tissue, and/or muscle from your stomach, back, or buttocks is used to reconstruct the breast. A breast implant is then inserted under the new tissue.

Tissue expansion uses an expander that is implanted under the skin to stretch the skin so that it will fit over the implant. This is done over a period of several months.