Every breast cancer patient who seeks reconstructive care has unique medical needs and appearance goals. To develop a treatment strategy that best suits yours, the breast surgeons at the Brigham and Women's Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery offer a wide array of reconstruction options.
Reconstruction Procedures
No matter what kind of reconstruction you seek — immediate reconstruction, delayed reconstruction or preventive care — we provide a variety of surgical treatment options, including:
- Breast implants after mastectomy: Using silicone or salt water (saline) implants to create a new breast
- Autologous breast reconstruction after mastectomy (flap procedures): Using tissue from elsewhere in your body (autologous tissue) to replace breast tissue
Types of flap procedures include:
- DIEP flap reconstruction: Replacing breast tissue with a flap of skin and fat from the belly
- LAT flap reconstruction: Replacing breast tissue with a flap of skin and muscle from the upper back
- SGAP flap reconstruction: Replacing breast tissue with a flap of skin and fat from the upper buttocks
- PAP flap reconstruction: Replacing breast tissue with a flap of skin and fat from the upper thigh, just below the buttocks
- TUG/DUG flap reconstruction: Replacing breast tissue with a flap of skin and fat from the inner thigh
- Innervated flap reconstruction: Connecting nerves in transplanted tissue to the nerves in the chest to restore feeling to the reconstructed breast
Reconstruction may be performed on its own or with breast lift, breast reduction or breast augmentation on the other breast to achieve breast symmetry.
For breast cancer patients, breast reconstruction following cancer surgery is usually covered by health insurance policies. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 includes protections for individuals who elect breast reconstruction in connection with a mastectomy. For more details on your coverage, be sure to consult with your insurance company in advance. Our team's coordinators can work with your health insurance plan to help with this process.
To learn more about our breast cancer reconstruction services, please visit our Reconstructive Breast Surgery & Procedures page.
Why Choose Us
As a patient at the Brigham, you can expect:
- Superlative care from our nationally known breast reconstruction surgeons, who are leaders in breast cancer reconstruction research and surgical innovation
- A multidisciplinary team approach in which your reconstruction surgeon works closely with your breast cancer surgeon, your medical oncologist and other cancer specialists
- Seamless, coordinated care in collaboration with cancer specialists from Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center
- Treatment by one of the top 15 hospitals in the country, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report
Request an Appointment
To request an appointment, please call 857-307-6182 Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm ET or complete the form to receive a call back.
