Mastectomy surgery with breast reconstruction surgery at the University of Ottawa.
When breast reconstruction is performed in conjunction with mastectomy surgery, it is referred to as immediate reconstruction. This surgery offers the patient an immediate return to their familiar form after breast cancer surgeryThe surgery requires the coordination of the oncologic breast surgery and plastic surgery teams. During the operation, once the breast cancer surgeon has removed the breast, the plastic surgeon reconstructs the breast with either an implant or autologous method or a combination thereof. Patient eligibility for immediate reconstruction is determined by the stage of their cancer therapy. In some cases, a surgeon will recommend waiting until after radiation and chemotherapy treatments are finished before starting reconstruction. In some cases partial reconstruction may be recommended immediately with the final reconstruction performed after cancer treatments are completed. An in depth surgical consultation will determine the course of treatment that is most suited to the patient’s needs.