Following a mastectomy or breast injury, many women choose to have breast reconstruction to help them look and feel like themselves again and regain their self-confidence. As with other types of breast enhancement surgery, you will have a variety of options to choose from, depending on your specific needs.
To help you get the most out of your procedure, jot down these important breast reconstruction questions to ask your doctor during your consultation.
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Is Breast Reconstruction Right for Me?
Before moving forward with any plastic surgery procedure, it’s helpful to sit down with your plastic surgeon and discuss your needs and goals. During this time, your plastic surgeon can help you decide whether breast reconstruction could be the best solution for you, and where in your treatment timeline it may fit best.
This is also a great opportunity to talk about your breast reconstruction options and whether you’d like to simply restore your previous appearance or if you’d like to change the size or position of your breasts as well.
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What Is the Best Breast Size for Me?
If you decide to move forward with breast reconstruction, keep in mind that you can custom-tailor your procedure, so you’ll be able to choose if you’d like your breast size to stay the same or become larger or smaller.
Your plastic surgeon can help you decide what breast size could be the best fit for you, depending on your personal preferences and lifestyle. Ultimately, many women want to pick a breast size that remains in balance with theirexisting body proportions to maintain a natural look.
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What Can I Expect During Recovery?
Be sure to go over your plastic surgeon’s post-surgery guidelines prior to your procedure so you know just what to expect and don’t feel overwhelmed with information right after your surgery. For example, ask questions like:
- How much time will I need to take off work?
- What should I wear to and from my breast reconstruction?
- Will I have a post-surgical drain, and, if so, when will it be removed?
- What will my physical limitations be?
- When can I return to the gym and other physical activities?
The answers to these questions will vary from woman to woman and can also depend on your body’s individual healing process, so there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. That’s why it’s a good idea to discuss the specifics of your recovery beforehand so you’ll have a realistic idea of what your recovery timeline might look like.
It can take at least 6 weeks to recover from a combined mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
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When Will I See Results?
The type of breast reconstruction you choose can determine how long it might take before you can see a noticeable change in the look and feel of your breasts. Reconstruction with implants is typically slightly less involved than flap reconstruction, so your recovery and results will vary depending on which technique you and your plastic surgeon choose.
For some women, noticeable results can develop soon after breast reconstruction, whereas for others, changes may happen more gradually.
Remember to keep an open line of communication with your plastic surgeon throughout your recovery to make sure your results are developing on track, and don’t hesitate to give his or her office a call if you have additional questions or concerns along the way.
Dr. David Dellinger at Elysian Plastic Surgery in Austin is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who maintains a practice focus on body contouring surgery, breast enhancement and facial rejuvenation.
