Really large breasts are difficult to duplicate simply because they require so much flesh. Some women opt for mastectomies over lumpectomies because they cannot stand the thought of keeping a cancerous breast. Others want to avoid the radiation therapy and frequent exams needed to guard against recurring cancer after lumpectomies. Still, many doctors believe that when possible, women are better off keeping their own breasts by opting for lumpectomies. For one thing, even when all goes perfectly, a reconstructed breast lacks the sensation of the original.
Women have some feeling, but the faux nipple is numb.
For those who choose mastectomy, however, the skin-sparing approach has clearly revolutionized the entire process. While the primary goal still is to cure cancer, doctors say they can now make appearance a priority, too. Judy Lewis, a college administrator from White Plains, N.Y., imagines she would have done fine with an old-fashioned mastectomy. After all, life is more important than breasts. But her reconstruction allowed her avoid that personal challenge.