Few women chose to have reconstruction. A hospital stay of several days is usual for each operation in the process. Several types of implants are used in reconstruction. Generally, they are soft, fluid-filled sacs, available in various sizes. The surgeon chooses the size and shape that will best match the patient's opposite breast.
Breast reconstruction is a personalized procedure.
Your plastic surgeon will recommend the best procedure for you after considering the type of mastectomy performed, your postop treatment, your skin and muscle condition, your breast size, and other factors. Sometimes a contracture softens, as it is absorbed by the body, and improves. Frequently, the surgeon can manipulate it to split the capsule, and the implant then assumes its normal size and shape. Contractures may need to be released surgically. Women who are considering reconstructive breast surgery should be aware that mastectomy and reconstruction incisions are permanent, although the degree of scarring varies among individuals.