Breast Reconstruction Surgery-What You Need to Know

With Breast Cancer Awareness month here, now is the most important time to show support for those who have fought against breast cancer and are continuing to do so. With over 3.1 million breast cancer survivors, many of them have undergone mastectomies and decided that they wanted immediate breast reconstruction surgery upon having a bilateral mastectomy performed. It’s important that when women have breast reconstruction surgery that they take extra special care of their bodies both pre and post-surgery. If you are someone or know someone who is about to undergo breast reconstruction, here are the most important things to note before your surgery.

1. Know the Different Kinds of Reconstruction Options: Deciding that you’re going to have reconstruction surgery is a big deal. If you’re going to have it, it’s important to know the options that you have available. You can go with silicone or saline breast implants or use your own body tissue otherwise known as a tissue flap procedure. This often uses body tissue from the stomach, back, thighs or buttocks to build natural looking breast tissue. Both options are valid options, it really will just ultimately depend on the shape and feel you’re going to be aiming for. Some women even choose to use both kinds of procedures as a combination to reconstruct their breasts. It’s even possible nowadays to have nipple and areola reconstruction, usually performed about 3-4 months after your breast reconstruction surgery. If you’re in need of more information, the American Cancer Society has a really helpful and informative page on everything concerning breast reconstruction surgery that you should check out.

   

2. Know What to Expect: Undergoing any plastic surgery, let alone breast reconstruction surgery is guaranteed to take a toll on you, both physically and mentally. It’s extremely important that before you have your surgery, that you know what to expect in order to avoid any surprises. This is with pain, side effects, scars, and how long it can be before you can wear a regular bra again. While each person’s recovery process is different, it’s helpful to have a recovery timeframe in mind as well so you have an idea of when you’ll start to be feeling more normal.

   

3. Have a Comfortable Bra Handy for After: Once you’ve had your breast reconstruction performed, you’re going to need a bra available for you to wear afterwards when you’re out and about. It’s important that when looking for a bra, that you find one that will help to embrace your natural shape and feels comfortable like you’re hardly wearing anything at all! The most important things to look for in a bra are that it has no wiring, a soft fabric that is breathable and try to avoid molded cups. Bra company, True & Co. meets all of these requirements as they’ve used feedback from their community to create comfortable bras with a nice stretchy fabric and zero underwire. It’s also extremely helpful to have a bra with a front closure for easy dressing and removal. These bras from AnaOno come highly recommended as well as they’re made for women who have breast cancer by women who have had breast cancer.

What is your advice for women undergoing breast reconstruction?

About True & Co.

True & Co.is a female-founded company who values the importance of community, and one of their goals is to encourage women to inspire their own community to be the best version of themselves. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and a number of companies across the US are joining hands to spread awareness and raise money for research. True & Co.’s longtime partner, Keep A Breast is one of the many organizations that support this cause.

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