Mastectomy with reconstruction same time

Second_journey50-61

I am post cancer patient currently at risk for return. My decision is to have mastectomy followed by reconstruction at the time of mastectomy. What are the first steps of building a team? What kind of surgeon to select for breast removal? Does a plastic surgeon have to be in operating room at the same time? I am seeking advise for the approach of the first steps to take and so on.

Second_journey50-61

I don't know how this section operates. Do I wait for a reply?

Moderators

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GwennyMD

Second

Most of us probably had this done during treatment therefore our team was probably built at the same hospital.  The removal is generally done by a breast surgeon and the reconstruction is done by a plastic surgeon. Since you are having preventive surgery I would search for a plastic surgeon who specializes is the type of reconstruction you want, for example implants vs flaps.

Good luck

Anonymous

While I didn't choose to have reconstruction, I was considering it at the time. Usually your surgeon will have a plastic surgeon he would refer you to. If not, you should find one who has performed many breast reconstructions and works at the same hospital as your breast surgeon. The breast surgeon will remove the breast and the plastic surgeon will come for the second half to insert a tissue expander, or flap, or other type of reconstruction surgery depending on what you decide is best.

Best of luck going forward.

SpecialK

second - generally it is a breast surgeon (can be an oncological breast surgeon who specializes in breast cancer patients, but some use a general surgeon that does mastectomy/ lumpectomy - may depend on where you live and what facilities are available, and your rapport with individual physicians) who handles the removal of breast tissue, and a plastic surgeon (or micro vascular plastic surgeon for autologous flap type reconstruction) who handles the reconstructive portion. If you are having immediate steps toward reconstruction the doctors work together in the OR, and that can encompass expander to implant, direct to implant if you are a candidate, or flap type surgery. There are different types of mastectomy approaches also, skin sparing, skin and nipple sparing, different incision types - depending on your individual situation. I would recommend speaking with several docs to see what they suggest.

Papillon1

I am

Planning a prophylactic mastectomy. The breast removal will be done by a gynecologist surgeon and the reconstruction will be done by a plastic surgeon. Both present in the theatre - one hands over to the other half way...

My regular gyno recommended two gynocologits who have experience with this surgery. I met both and liked one a lot. The newly recommended gyno then told me her "favourite" plastic surgeon who I met with and liked.