This section provides information about having a breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. For information about breast cancer and what to expect before, during and after surgery, see Breast cancer and Surgery.
It is estimated that almost 1 in 3 women in Australia has a breast reconstruction after a mastectomy.
Learn more about:
- When can I have a reconstruction?
- Who will do the reconstruction
- Types of breast reconstruction
- Implant reconstruction
- Flap reconstruction
- Re-creating the nipple
- Surgery to the other breast
- What to expect after surgery
- Taking care of yourself after a reconstruction
- Costs and financial assistance
When can I have a reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction can be done at the same time as a mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or months or years later (delayed reconstruction). The timing depends on the type of breast cancer you were diagnosed with, whether you need further treatment after surgery (for example, radiation therapy or chemotherapy), the type of reconstruction, your general health, and other concerns such as cost.
Immediate reconstruction – If you have a breast reconstruction during the mastectomy, it may be possible to save most of the skin but not the nipple (skin-sparing mastectomy). Sometimes it may be possible to leave the nipple in place (nipple-sparing mastectomy). Having a skin- or nipple- sparing mastectomy often means a more natural look and fewer scars.
Delayed reconstruction – Sometimes you won’t be able to have an immediate reconstruction because of medical and cancer treatment or the surgery schedule at the hospital. You may also need to have the reconstruction in a number of stages to achieve the desired result. Talk to your surgeon about these issues.
After a breast reconstruction you will need to do some exercises to get your arm and shoulder moving properly again. Learn more about exercises you can do before and after surgery to help with your recovery. You can also ask your doctor or breast care nurse about suitable exercises or visit a physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist.
→ READ MORE: Who will do the reconstruction?
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Key resource
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More resources
Dr Jane O’Brien, Specialist Oncoplastic Breast Cancer Surgeon, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, VIC; Clare Bradshaw, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Breast Assessment Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, WA; Rene Hahn, Consumer; Sinead Hanley, Consumer; Dr Marc Langbart, Specialist Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Randwick Plastic Surgery, NSW; Melanie Law, Consumer; Sally Levy, Consumer; Annmaree Mitchell, Consumer; Ashleigh Mondolo, Breast Cancer Nurse Clinical Consultant, Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, QLD; Rochelle Osgood, Clinical Nurse Consultant – McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, QLD: Dr Kallyani Ponniah, Head of Department, Breast Centre, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, WA; Meg Rynderman OAM, Consumer; Sarah Stewart, Breast Care Nurse, The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC; Erin Tidball, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Jane Turner, Senior Exercise Physiologist, Sydney Cancer Survivorship Centre, Concord Cancer Centre, NSW.
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