This was a landmark year for breast reconstruction. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act also includes surgery to provide symmetry of the opposite breast. This is only the second time in U.S. history that Congress has mandated a medical procedure be covered by a federal health policy. Recent advances in expander design have allowed improved results in breast reconstruction with implants. This type of reconstruction can be performed either at the time of mastectomy or in a delayed fashion.
Reconstruction is performed in two stages.
At the first stage a tissue expander is placed underneath the muscles of the chest wall. This expander is like a deflated balloon. Several weeks after surgery the process of expansion is begun. This expansion process can take between two and four months, depending on breast size and how much fluid can be placed into the expander each time. After expansion is completed and the tissues are adequately stretched, a second surgical procedure is performed that can be on an outpatient basis.