October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a designation meant to make us all aware that we should be on the lookout for this disease. However, it’s also a time to celebrate the overcoming of cancer! If you have lost a breast to cancer or if it was a partial loss, you should know that you have options, such as breast reconstruction surgery.

What you need to know about breast reconstruction

Every woman is different, of course, and that is why, if you are considering breast reconstruction, it is so important that you find a plastic surgeon who can compassionately and competently guide you through the entire process.

Here are some things to consider about breast reconstruction:

1. Breast reconstruction can be done with silicone or saline breast implants. Each of these have their pros and cons, and your doctor can discuss these with you. However, both saline and silicone come in various sizes, and both look and feel very natural.

2. Breast reconstruction can happen during the mastectomy or lumpectomy, but it can also be done months or years afterward. Some patients wait for reconstruction until chemotherapy or radiation therapy is complete – there is no hurry to decide, and it’s never too late to think about having it done.

3. If the cancer was in one breast, the reconstruction procedure may include the other breast as well, so that the two will be the same size and shape.

4. If they weren’t preserved during the cancer removal, the nipple and the areola can be reconstructed at the final stage of breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction can’t restore sensation to the breast or the nipple, although some patients do regain some sensation over time.

5. Studies have shown that breast reconstruction does not increase the chances of a woman getting breast cancer again, and it doesn’t make it more difficult to check for recurring cancer.

Are you considering breast reconstruction surgery? The staff at Iorio Plastic Surgery can answer all of your questions and help you decide if it’s right for you. Call the office in Holmdel and Colts Neck, New Jersey, at 732-780-9191 or the office in Brick, New Jersey, at 732-458-7400 for an appointment today!