Breast reconstruction
Breast reconstruction is surgery to make a new breast after removal of the breast or part of the breast.
There are different types of breast reconstruction. Your surgeon and breast cancer nurse will talk to you through the different options available to you. The main types of breast reconstruction are:
- implants to replace all or some of your breast tissue
- having a breast shape made from your own body tissue
- a combination of an implant and your own body tissue
Find out about the different types of reconstruction after surgery for breast cancer and when you might have it. We explain about some of the possible problems that can happen and exercises to do after breast reconstruction.
What is breast reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction is surgery to make a new breast after removal of the breast or part of the breast. Find out about the different types, when you might have it, who can have it and surgery to your other breast. We also list some of the advantages and disadvantages of delayed and immediate reconstruction.
Types of breast reconstruction
There are different types of breast reconstruction, find out what these are. Your surgeon and breast cancer nurse will talk to you through the different options available to you.
Breast reconstruction using implants
Implant surgery means using a silicone gel or salt water filled silicone balloon to recreate a breast shape after removal of a breast.
Breast reconstruction using body tissue
This type of reconstruction involves the surgeon taking skin, fat, and sometimes muscle from another part of your body and makes it into a new breast shape.
Exercises after breast reconstruction using implants
See the exercises to do after breast reconstruction surgery using a simple implant or a tissue expander implant.
Exercises after breast reconstruction using muscle
Learn about exercises to do after breast reconstruction using muscles from your back. This is also known as breast reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi flap.
Possible problems with breast reconstruction
Breast reconstruction techniques have improved over the years and there are fewer problems. Find out some of complications after breast reconstruction surgery.
