What Is the Goal of Breast Reconstruction?

Dr. Wallace answers the question: 'What's the Goal of Breast Reconstruction?'

By
Anne Wallace, M.D., Director, Breast Care Unit, Moore's UCSD Cancer Center
May 8, 2008, 3:59 PM ET
1 min read

— -- Question: What is the goal of breast reconstruction?

Answer: The goal of breast reconstruction is to create for the breast cancer patient, who has had either a mastectomy or who has had a significant defect after breast conservation, a breast that will mimic as closely as possible the shape and form and size of the patient's native breast. We go to great lengths and detailed surgeries to try to create the as-close-as-possible breast compared to the patient's opposite breast. However, we are not as good as what God does, and we can't exactly always get symmetry, but we work very hard to do whatever necessary in order to get it there. If it means an implant, or if it means a flap, if it means a revision, a different color nipple, et cetera.

Next: When Should I Speak to a Reconstructive Surgeon?

Previous: What is Lymphedema and How Common Is It?