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Four Misconceptions About Breast Reconstruction Surgery

For many women who have undergone breast cancer treatment, breast reconstruction surgery can be a welcome and empowering step toward restoring both appearance and self-confidence. This procedure is one of many advanced breast surgeries performed at Holzman Plastic Surgery by board-certified plastic surgeon Steven Holzman, MD. Breast reconstruction focuses on restoring the natural appearance of the chest, enhancing breast symmetry, and increasing breast volume when desired or necessary.

While breast reconstruction offers an important opportunity for patients seeking breast restoration following cancer treatment, traumatic injury, or other medical conditions, there are still common misconceptions surrounding the potential outcomes and available techniques. To help clarify what patients can realistically expect, Dr. Holzman addresses and dispels several widespread myths about breast reconstruction below.

Misconception #1: Reconstructed breasts do not look natural. 

Due to the procedure’s connection to cancer and cancer treatment, some individuals don’t correlate reconstruction surgery with the type of satisfactory results often seen with other breast enhancement options. This may lead to prospective patients having a skewed or false impression on the outcomes they may receive. When performed by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon like Dr. Holzman, breast reconstruction can result in breasts that look very natural. 

Misconception #2: Breast implants are the only option for reconstructed breasts. 

While breast implants are a popular option for reconstruction surgery, they are not the only choice. In some cases, fat grafting may be performed, allowing fat harvested from another area of the patient’s body to be transferred to the breasts for natural-looking restoration. Usually, fat grafting is an adjunct procedure along with implant placement. Alternatively, tissue-based options such as the DIEP flap can be performed if the patient prefers to avoid implants. The technique ultimately selected will depend on several factors, including the patient’s personal preferences, unique anatomy, aesthetic goals, and the method most likely to achieve optimal results. Dr. Holzman is almost exclusively an implant-based surgeon as he feels it offers the best reconstructive result for optimizing the risk/benefit consideration for reconstruction.

Misconception #3: Surgery cannot be performed on patients who have undergone radiation therapy. 

Radiation therapy can limit the breast reconstruction options available for patients; however, reconstruction surgery is still possible for many of those who have undergone that type of cancer treatment. Specific techniques may be utilized to help restore the breasts of a patient who previously underwent radiation therapy but it does limit some options for those patients. 

Misconception #4: Breast cancer is more difficult to detect after reconstruction surgery. 

Another common misconception about breast reconstruction surgery is that it can interfere with the detection of breast cancer if it were to return. In reality, the procedure should not make cancer detection more difficult. While certain surgical techniques may influence how screenings are performed, specialized imaging methods and diagnostic exams are available for patients who have undergone breast reconstruction. These tailored screenings are designed to maintain, and even improve, the accuracy of cancer detection rather than hinder it.

Are you interested in learning more about breast reconstruction surgery? Contact our office today for more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Holzman.