Breast Reconstruction

Your consultation is designed to be perfect opportunity to ask all the pressing questions that you have to your consultant, ahead of making a decision on surgery. It is vital that you are fully informed before making your final decision, and the consultation is therefore a key part of the education and decision making process.

Some good examples of questions to ask, include:

• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• Do you think my goals are realistic given my existing anatomy?
• Will I require a single surgery or multiple surgeries?
• Can I see some before & after pictures of implant replacement procedures you have done previously?
• How long will my recovery take?
• Is it true that Cadogan offers 24/7 on call nursing service?
• What can I expect in terms of bruising, swelling and scarring?
• What are my options if I am unhappy with my results?

After your surgery, you will be asked to come in for a post-operative appointment to come back and see our nursing staff at the Clinic between 1 and 2 weeks after your surgery. At this point your incision sites will be reviewed, and your preliminary healing will be assessed.

After 6 weeks your surgeon will personally review your progress – again at the Clinic - and make sure you are recovering as expected. In addition, they will remove any stitches and advise you on the need for further dressings.

Throughout the recovery period you will have full access to our 24/7 on call nursing service, and full access to the Clinic and our post-operative facilities.

Our aim is to make you feel as comfortable as possible during the entirety of your recovery period.

As your anaesthetic or sedation wear off you will wake up in our recovery facilities at the Clinic. You may feel a little drowsy but this often wears off within a few hours. After several hours in recovery, you will eat and hydrate. At that point, you will be allowed to leave the Clinic by our nursing staff.

It is common to feel a little pain and discomfort in the immediate aftermath of surgery. This will wear off in due course. Our 24/7 on call service is open to all patients for any question or query they may have at this time.

You will not be able to drive yourself home after the surgery. You should arrange for someone to pick you up and take you home. In addition, you will need to ask someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours after your procedure.

Final results are typically first seen six or so weeks after your procedure, with ongoing improvements beyond this point likely as the healing process fully completes over the coming 12 to 18 months.

Your surgeon will be able to give you specific guidance at your consultation.

Certain lifestyle factors can increase the risk of complications during and after your surgery. These include smoking, drinking alcohol, being overweight and taking drugs (for medical or recreational use.)

The most common impact of smoking before your surgery is that it increases your chances of developing an infection and inhibits your body's natural healing processes. We insist that all patients stop smoking and using nicotine products at least six weeks before surgery. Reducing alcohol intake is also strongly advised.

Your doctor will discuss your current BMI and drug use at your consultation and advise you further on this.

Women who have had a mastectomy to treat breast cancer generally do not need routine screening mammograms on the side that was affected by cancer, although they will need to regularly on the other breast.

Whilst it is possible for women with reconstructed breasts to get mammograms, cancer is more likely to come back in the skin or chest wall, and is therefore more likely to be found on a physical exam.

If you have a breast implant and you need a mammogram, it is very important to find a facility where they have expertise and experience of performing mammograms on patients with breast implants. This is because images can sometimes be impaired by implants, and the implant will need to be carefully positioned to get the best images of the breast.

Having a breast reconstruction or not is a highly personal decision. It is important to understand that it is your choice, and your choice alone.

Some women choose not to have their breast reconstructed at all and feel that a flat chest is a better acknowledgement and expression of their post- breast cancer personality. Others are happy to simply wear a prosthetic breast in their bra rather than have to undergo more surgery, although some women find it restricts their choice of clothing.

Talking to other women who have undergone treatment is an important step to understanding what the right path is for you. Likewise your friends, family and the health professionals looking after you can help you come to the right decision for you.
The good news is that if you choose not to have a reconstruction initially, you can still consider a delayed reconstruction at a later date if you change your mind. Excellent results will still be possible for you at this later date.