Breast Reconstruction: Top Reasons for This Surgery

If you are not satisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may be wondering whether you need breast reconstruction or augmentation. While both surgeries may have the same results in many cases, they are usually done for different reasons. Find out what the most popular reasons are for getting breast reconstruction before you decide if this is the route you need to take.

One of the main reasons for this kind of surgery is breast cancer, as this type of procedure is usually done after a mastectomy, which involves removal of one or both breasts. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, or even think that you are high risk for this disease, you may want to look into this treatment since most women get it after a mastectomy. In some cases, reconstruction can be done during the surgery to remove the affected breasts, so talk to your doctor about it far in advance when possible. This way, you can get both surgeries over with and continue your life cancer-free, and in many cases, the procedure will be paid for by health insurance.

Though it is rare, some women are in need of breast reconstruction surgery after a car accident that destroys the tissue around the chest area. Whether all or part of your breasts are missing or damaged, you can usually fix the issue with this kind of procedure. You should consider what you want done before you schedule the operation. For example, think about whether you want exactly what you had before, or if you want to go up a cup size instead. If you have ever wanted augmentation to enlarge or lift your breasts, this would be the time to get it done. Just be sure to make a few decisions long before the operation so that you can alert your surgeon to your choices, such as desired cup size, type of implants, and whether you also want a lift.

In general, any trauma to your chest may call for breast reconstruction, as this kind of surgery can give you back what you had before, or even improve it. As long as your desires for your new chest are not extreme, insurance will often pay for it since the treatment is necessary in order to help you get back to the shape you were in before the trauma. Just talk to your insurance provider and an experienced surgeon to find out what can be done for you.