The choice depends on the amount and suitability of tissue remaining at the surgery site, the desire to match the opposite breast, the recovery time, and the possible loss of muscle function. The surgeon will discuss these choices with the woman in terms of what best suits her situation. Breast reconstruction is most often an option for women who have had a mastectomy and their entire breast has been removed. Most mastectomy patients can have reconstruction. Lumpectomy patients rarely need reconstruction.
Many women choose to wait until after the initial breast surgery to decide about reconstruction.
They do not want to deal with this issue while they are coping with a diagnosis of cancer. Others simply don't want to have any more surgery than is needed. Surgeons may tell their patients to wait for one reason or another. This may happen if the breast is being rebuilt in a more complicated way using flaps of skin and underlying tissue. Women with other health problems, such as obesity and high blood pressure, as well as smokers, may also be told to wait or may not be a candidate for reconstruction.