Breast Reconstruction - Associated Procedures
Some women may choose to undergo surgical breast procedures, unrelated to mastectomy, for other medical or cosmetic reasons. These same procedures are also used for women who undergo post-mastectomy reconstruction—for example to create a more balanced look by altering the unaffected breast in women who undergo reconstruction of one breast. Similarly, nipple reconstruction is a procedure many post-mastectomy patients choose as a part of their surgical plan. Most health insurance policies are required to provide coverage for such procedures when they are part of the reconstructive process following mastectomy.
Nipple Reconstruction
Regardless of which method of breast reconstruction you may choose, reconstruction of a nipple—a minor surgical procedure—really helps to make a reconstructed breast look as natural as possible.
Fat Grafting
Fat grafting, also known as micro-fat injection, can be used in many ways to refine the results of breast reconstruction surgery. For example, the technique can be used to add volume to a breast reconstructed with natural tissue, to smooth areas that have an irregular contour, or to camouflage the edges of an implant used for reconstruction.
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue to reduce breast size and, at the same time, contours the breasts to produce natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing breasts.
Breast Lift
A breast lift can restore a more youthful shape and a firmer feel to the breasts; this procedure can be done for purely cosmetic reasons, to improve symmetry between a woman’s breasts, or to achieve symmetry between a reconstructed breast and the opposite breast.
Breast Augmentation
Breast augmentation, one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgery procedures, can be done to change the size and appearance of a woman’s breasts, balance breast size, or compensate for the reduced breast volume that frequently occurs following pregnancy or from aging.
