Breast reconstruction is the creation of a breast mound followed by nipple reconstruction. When it comes to breast reconstruction after mastectomy, there are many different ways to reconstruct a breast. Not all surgeons will practice all techniques and some options may only suit some people but generally speaking many people can choose from more than one option.
Broadly speaking, breast reconstruction can be one of three types:
- Reconstruction using an artificial implant
- Reconstruction using tissue from your own body
- Reconstruction using a combination of your tissue and an implant.
The following sections will go through each reconstructive option in more detail, including advantages and disadvantages of each option. There is a lot of information to absorb, so take your time, and if it gets confusing, just bear in mind the three different types; each procedure described will belong to one of the three main types of reconstructive surgery.