For More Information Call
0115 966 2000

• Home
• About us
• Testimonials
• Contact us

Breast Reconstruction Timing -
Immediate Reconstruction

Immediate (Primary) breast reconstruction

This is when the breast reconstruction is done at the same time as the surgery for your breast cancer. There are advantages and potential disadvantages to planning a primary reconstruction. It must always be remembered that a reconstruction can still be performed on the majority of patients at a later date after all your cancer treatment is completed.

Advantages of Primary Reconstruction

• There is no delay between cancer treatment and reconstruction. This can reduce the psychological effects of mastectomy for some patients.
• For some methods of reconstruction cancer surgery and reconstruction is one operation. This is true of the more major reconstructions using your own tissue such as from the back or tummy. The implant based reconstruction usually starts with an expandable balloon under the skin and muscle (tissue expander) which is initially flat but will be expanded over subsequent weeks. This is replaced with an implant 4-6 months later.
• Avoids living with the appearance of mastectomy or breast deformity.
• Depending on methods used the surgeon can frequently do the mastectomy through the nipple, saving all the breast skin. The reconstruction then fills this skin and gives a more natural cosmetic result. Therefore the potential cosmetic result with primary reconstruction can be superior.
• Can sometimes build a nipple at the same time. This is true of the reconstructions using the tummy or back but not with implant based reconstruction.

Potential disadvantages of immediate (primary) reconstruction

• You need to understand, make decisions and have additional surgery that may lengthen your hospital stay. All at an already difficult time.
• You may have complications from your additional surgery at a time when you are awaiting other treatments for your cancer such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. (This does not mean that your cancer treatment will be affected but could mean additional surgery to ensure that complications are treated quickly if they occur).
• If you unexpectedly need radiotherapy this can affect the result of your reconstruction. Indeed, if we know you will definitely need radiotherapy after surgery then we may recommend delaying reconstruction.
• The complication rate of immediate reconstruction is slightly higher than delayed reconstruction.