Breast Reconstruction After Having a Mastectomy
We at Dr. Kara Plastic Surgery understand the stress and struggle of going through breast cancer. Breast reconstruction is one way in which you can regain some sense of control over your body following a mastectomy due to cancer. Some women who have been tested for BRCA, a gene mutation, may choose to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy, if they tested positive, in order to greatly reduce their chance of getting breast cancer.
Prioritizing your cancer treatment is an absolute must. You should consult with your oncologist before undergoing breast reconstruction. Radiation treatment, for example, may require that you delay the reconstruction pending treatment and recovery.
Our breast reconstruction options will have you home the same day. The surgery will last 30-45 minutes, as Dr. Kara meticulously plans each surgery to reduce the trauma to your body and the scarring to your breast(s). When you include your pre-op time with us on surgery day, you will only be with us for about 3 hours total! For breast implants, you can expect to get back to your regular routine within 24-48 hours. For the fat transfer breast reconstruction option, there is a slightly longer 3-4 day recovery time.
We believe that women or men who have had to endure breast cancer and make the difficult decision to have a mastectomy, should be given the option to reconstruct their breasts to regain a sense of normalcy. It's a very personal decision and we are happy to guide you through that process if you are considering breast reconstruction. We are sensitive to your needs and situation and will do our very best to make you feel comfortable and confident.