Breast reconstruction can be done immediately following the mastectomy (while the patient is still under general anesthesia), or it can be done in a delayed or secondary fashion.

In general, the reconstructive result is probably a bit better when the procedure is done immediately following the mastectomy. In an immediate reconstruction, the skin and other soft tissues around the mastectomy have not contracted down or scarred yet. However, some patients are undecided about reconstruction or are too emotionally distraught by the diagnosis and choose to consider breast reconstruction at a later date (after they have recovered from their mastectomy and subsequent chemotherapy or radiation therapy).

Each patient is different and the decision to proceed with immediate or secondary breast reconstruction may be influenced by the type of tumor the patient has. It is important to stress that excellent results can be obtained with both immediate and secondary breast reconstructions.

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