Breast Reconstruction - Making the Right Decision for You

With breast reconstruction, the goal is often to restore the shape and appearance of the breasts to create a more natural appearance. Many times, women go under the knife to remove this tissue to save their life. There's no doubt that protecting your life is of vital importance,, but that does not make the process of losing your breasts any easier. With new techniques, doctors can significant improve your appearance by creating new tissues that look and often times feel like natural breasts.

What the Surgery Involves

With breast reconstruction, the cosmetic surgeon will use various procedures to create an appearance that is right for you. This will differ for each person. However, most procedures will require several steps. Sometimes, more than one step is performed during a single surgical procedure. In other cases, you may need to have several procedures.

During the surgical procedure, the surgeon will create a mound of tissue in the appropriate location. Surgeons use implants or tissues removed from other portions of the body to create this mound. The tissue may come from your buttocks, back or your abdominal region. Usually this occurs when it is safe to do so and when excess tissue exists in these locations. If the surgeon recommends using implants, these are pouches filled with a silicone or saline fluid or gel. These are often the same as those used to enlarge breasts.

Additional procedures may help to create a more natural shape or size. Doctors can also add a nipple that looks realistic, though it will not function in the same way. Women with this procedure are unable to nurse in most cases. Doctors can later adjust or re-size the tissues in later procedures to help create a more appealing look. Sometimes, surgeons will recommend having the other breast adjusted to match the reconstructed one. You can have these often-elective procedures if you decide they are right for you.

Should You Do It?

Only the individual having the procedure can determine if having breast reconstruction is right for her needs. Some women do want to have a natural looking body and elect to have this procedure. Others do not. Sometimes, there is a psychological factor involved. In other cases, there could be budget constraints since many insurance companies see this procedure as an elective procedure and do not provide coverage.

Breast reconstruction can be highly successful in creating natural looking and feeling breasts. For many women, the procedure is the best way to feel normal again after having such an invasive procedure. The decision is up to you but one way to get more information is to schedule a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon. Find out what your options are before you decide.