Breast Reconstruction
Rebuild the shape of your breast after losing it, so you can look in the mirror and feel closer to the person you were before.
Is this right for you?
Breast reconstruction is surgery to rebuild the shape of one or both breasts after you have lost a breast, most often through breast cancer treatment. Whether it suits you depends on your overall health, your cancer treatment plan, how much tissue and skin remain, and what you want for your own body.
This may be a good fit if
- You have had, or will have, part or all of a breast removed, and you want to rebuild its shape.
- Your overall health is stable enough to come through surgery and the healing that follows.
- You understand that reconstruction aims to recreate shape, not to restore the feeling or function of your original breast.
- You are prepared for the possibility of needing more than one operation to reach a settled result.
- You want balance between the two sides, or a more whole sense of your body after losing a breast.
This may not be right if
- You currently smoke and cannot stop before surgery, because smoking reduces the blood supply to tissue and raises the risk of slow healing and tissue death (tissue that dies from lack of blood flow).
- You have a health condition that is not well controlled (for example diabetes or heart disease) that makes the surgical risk outweigh the benefit.
- You are in a phase of cancer treatment where your oncologist advises waiting before reconstruction.
- You expect the new breast to match your old one exactly in shape, feeling, and function.
How it works
Everything starts with a consultation. Your surgeon will ask about your medical history, your cancer treatment plan or results, any radiotherapy you have had, and what you are hoping for. They will examine your chest, assess the skin and tissue that remain, and talk through timing with you: reconstruction during the same operation as the mastectomy, or some time later. This is also when you should ask every question on your mind.
There are two main approaches to reconstruction, and your surgeon will explain which one fits you. The first uses an implant: your surgeon places an implant to create volume, sometimes after first placing a tissue expander (a pouch that is gradually filled to stretch the skin and create a space to hold the implant). The second uses your own tissue: your surgeon takes skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from another part of your body (usually the abdomen or back) to build the new breast.
Reconstruction surgery is usually carried out under general anaesthesia, which means you are fully asleep throughout the operation. The length of surgery varies a great deal depending on the method; reconstruction using your own tissue usually takes longer because blood vessels need to be reconnected.
Depending on what you choose, rebuilding the areola and nipple can be done in a smaller operation afterward, or with cosmetic tattooing. Your surgeon will talk with you so these steps fit both what you want and how your body heals.
Realistic expectations
Breast reconstruction helps rebuild the line of your breast and your balance when you are dressed. But there are things this surgery cannot do, and you should understand them clearly before you decide.
What this will not do
- It will not restore normal feeling to the chest; the new breast is often numb or has reduced sensation, sometimes for the long term.
- It will not make the reconstructed breast identical to the other side, or to your original breast, in shape and softness.
- It does not replace ongoing cancer monitoring and treatment; reconstruction neither cures nor prevents cancer.
- It will not give a settled result straight away; the shape may need time to settle and may sometimes need further adjustment.
Recovery
Recovery happens in stages and differs from one person to the next, depending on your method of reconstruction and your own body. The milestones below are general timeframes to help you picture the path, not exact figures.
- The first few days
- You may stay in hospital for a few days, especially with reconstruction using your own tissue. The surgical area will be swollen, bruised, and sore; your surgeon will use pain relief and may place drains to let fluid escape.
- Roughly the first 1 to 2 weeks
- Swelling and bruising gradually ease. You will limit lifting and vigorous movement. Drains are usually removed during this period once fluid has settled.
- Around 4 to 6 weeks
- Many people return to light work and everyday activities. You still avoid straining and heavy exercise until your surgeon clears you. If tissue was taken from another area, that site also needs its own time to heal.
- Over several months
- The shape of the breast gradually settles as the swelling fully recedes. This is often when you talk about finishing steps, such as creating a nipple or balancing the two sides, if that is what you want.
Risks & safety
Every operation carries risk, and breast reconstruction is a major procedure. Your surgeon will talk honestly about the points below so you can weigh them before you decide.
- Bleeding, or a collection of blood or fluid beneath the surgical area, sometimes needing a further procedure.
- Infection, which may need antibiotics or, in some cases, removal of the implant.
- Slow wound healing or tissue death, with higher risk if you smoke or have had radiotherapy.
- With your own tissue: the risk that the tissue flap loses part or all of its blood supply, which can mean losing the flap.
- With an implant: capsular contracture (scar tissue tightening around the implant, causing firmness, pain, or distortion), leaking or rupture of the implant over time, requiring replacement.
- Loss or change of feeling in the chest, scarring, and a difference in shape between the two sides.
- A result that does not match what you hoped for, which may need further surgery to adjust.
How we do it
Breast reconstruction is not a decision that stands on its own; it is bound up with your cancer treatment journey. Our surgeons talk through timing and method based on your overall treatment plan, the tissue and skin that remain, and what you want for your own body. We take the time for you to understand each option, including its limits, before you decide.
We see reconstruction as a process, not a single operation. Your surgeon will speak plainly about the possibility of needing further finishing steps and about what your body needs in order to heal. Throughout the journey, you are followed closely and have someone to ask whenever you feel worried.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have reconstruction during the same operation as the mastectomy, or do I have to wait?
Both are possible. Some people have reconstruction during the same operation, while others wait until their treatment is complete. The choice depends on your cancer treatment plan and your health. Your surgeon will talk it through with you to choose sensible timing.
How does implant reconstruction differ from using my own tissue?
An implant uses a pouch to create volume, usually with a shorter operation, but it may need replacing over time. Using your own tissue takes your own skin and fat from another area, which can feel more natural, but the operation is longer and adds a scar where the tissue is taken. Your surgeon will explain which approach fits you.
Will the reconstructed breast feel like a natural breast?
Usually it does not feel the way it did before. The chest after reconstruction is often numb or has reduced feeling, and this can last. The main goal of reconstruction is to rebuild shape and balance, not to restore sensation.
How long will I need off work?
It depends on the method and on the nature of your work. Many people return to light work within a few weeks to around 4 to 6 weeks, and longer with reconstruction using your own tissue or with heavy work. Your surgeon will advise based on your specific situation.
What will the scars look like?
Reconstruction leaves scars, with their position and length depending on the method. If your own tissue is used, you will have an additional scar at the donor site, such as the abdomen or back. Scars usually fade over time but do not disappear completely. Your surgeon will talk this through so you know what to expect.
I have had radiotherapy before; does that affect anything?
Yes. Radiotherapy changes the tissue and skin, raising the risk of slow healing and some complications. In many cases, reconstruction using your own tissue is considered more strongly. Be clear about your history of radiotherapy so your surgeon can choose a safe approach for you.
Will I need more surgery after the first operation?
It is likely. Reconstruction is often a process made up of several steps, for example refining the shape, balancing the two sides, or recreating the nipple. Your surgeon will tell you which steps your situation may call for.
Am I too old for reconstruction?
Age on its own is not the deciding factor. What matters more is your overall health and your ability to heal. Your surgeon will assess your specific condition rather than look only at a number.
Could reconstruction bring the cancer back or make it harder to monitor?
Reconstruction does not cause cancer and is not meant to cure or prevent it. You will still need to continue monitoring as guided by your oncologist. Talk it through so your reconstruction fits well with your monitoring plan.
Will the two breasts be balanced with each other?
Your surgeon works toward balance when you are dressed, but the two sides are hard to make identical in shape and softness. Sometimes further work on the remaining breast is needed so the two sides sit more in harmony. This is worth discussing beforehand.
The next step
The next step is a conversation - book a consultation.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.