Helping women rebuild their lives and breasts after breast cancer

Helping women rebuild their lives ( breasts) after breast cancer

By Karen M. Horton, MD, MSc

Breast reconstruction is so incredibly

rewarding. Why? Because we truly are “saving lives, one breast at a time” – albeit figuratively, and not literally! Reconstructing the breast form helps women facing breast cancer feel more whole and regain a sense of normalcy, and it also helps them move forward after a loss of all or part of their breast(s).

Breast reconstruction, as a career, is not lucrative for plastic surgeons. Most insurance reimbursements for breast reconstruction are embarrassingly poor and not reflective of the skill and experience needed for a successful and beautiful aesthetic outcome. The plastic surgeons who dedicate their time and expertise to breast reconstruction believe that reconstruction is important, valuable and a rewarding professional challenge. Performing breast reconstruction enables us to help women facing cancer regain their body image, self-esteem, femininity and confidence in moving forward in their fight.

The most significant reward is probably hearing my patients say they no longer think about their cancer when they are in the shower, getting dressed or with their partner in an intimate situation. They express that we are the doctor they actually look forward to seeing, and that we help them to see reconstruction as a positive light in the overwhelming sea of negatives of breast cancer.

For many patients, immediate reconstruction can help mitigate their sense of loss by removing the experience of their mastectomy defect. I encourage women to participate in the planning of their surgical results and to consider their reconstruction as an opportunity to have breasts that are lifted, smaller, fuller or rejuvenated. Preserving chest muscles, saving nipples and holding reconstruction results to the same standard as cosmetic surgery helps facilitate the best aesthetic outcome in breast reconstruction.

Delayed reconstruction recreates a female form after a period of complete loss. Whether reconstruction uses implants or the body’s own tissue, patients universally express gratitude when we help them take a step forward in their breast cancer recovery.