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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.