Your doctor may recommend a breast implant, reduction mammoplasty (breast reduction), or a mastopexy (breast lift), of your opposite, uninvolved breast to improve symmetry with your reconstructed breast. Reduction mammoplasty involves removal of breast tissue and skin. Mastopexy involves removing a strip of skin from under the breast or around the nipple and using it to lift and tighten the skin over the breast. If it is important to you not to alter the unaffected breast, you should discuss this with your doctor because it may affect the breast reconstruction procedures considered for your case.

The breast reconstruction process may begin at the time of your mastectomy (immediate reconstruction) or weeks to years afterwards (delayed reconstruction).

Immediate reconstruction is one-stage or two-stage reconstruction.

• One-stage breast reconstruction may be done at the time of your mastectomy. After the general surgeon removes your breast tissue, the plastic surgeon will insert a breast implant under the skin where breast tissue was removed.

• Two-stage reconstruction is more typical. The first stage is a breast tissue expander placed, at the time of your mastectomy, to stretch your skin and create a pocket for a breast implant. Tissue expansion typically lasts four to six months. The tissue expander is then replaced several months later with a breast implant. This is considered immediate reconstruction because the tissue expander is placed at the time of mastectomy.

Delayed reconstruction is a two-stage reconstruction starting with a breast tissue expander placed months or years later, which is then replaced several months later with a breast implant. This is considered delayed reconstruction because the tissue expander is placed after the mastectomy site has healed.