During breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery (total or partial mastectomy, lumpectomy), various surgical techniques can be used to rebuild the breast. They may involve a breast implant, skin and/or muscle flaps taken from the back or abdomen, and often lipomodelling (fat transfer). The choice of procedure depends on multiple factors, chiefly: the patient’s wishes, her age, her general health, and the surgical options directly influenced by previous treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, etc.). In some cases, certain reconstructive techniques cannot be used because of skin damage caused, for example, by radiotherapy. Several operations may be needed to achieve an optimal aesthetic result. At your first consultation, Dr Sallaz will listen to your wishes and examine you carefully to confirm whether a given procedure is feasible, and will explain it clearly. He will explain what it can realistically offer you and what it cannot correct. He will inform you as fully and honestly as possible about the procedure (position of the scars, how they may change over time, etc.). He will set out the treatment plan he envisages (number of operations, the time between each, etc.). Given the wide range of possible procedures, it is not possible to describe them all here; the surgeon will do so during your consultation.
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