Reconstruction of a breast that has been removed due to cancer or other disease is one of the most rewarding surgical procedures available today. By utilizing a variety of medical techniques and devices, it is possible for surgeons to create a breast   that can come close in form and appearance tomatching a natural breast.
 
 Breast reconstruction is often performed immediately following breast removal (mastectomy). This approach is called immediate breast reconstruction and allows the patient to wake up with a breast mound already in place, having been spared the experience of seeing herself with no breast at all.
 
 Immediate breast reconstruction is usually reserved for women who are unlikely to require further treatment after their mastectomy, such as chemotherapy orradiation therapy. For patients who are either not candidates for immediate breast reconstruction or choose not to undergo reconstruction at the time of their mastectomy, breast reconstruction can be performed at any time in the future (delayed breast reconstruction). The issue of timing of breast reconstruction, will be discussed with you at the time of your initial consultation.
 
 Most breast reconstruction involves a series of procedures that occur over time. The in reconstruction of a new breast mound. Typically, a second operation is performed 3-6 months later, at which time final shaping of the breast mound is achieved and reconstruction of the nipple and the areola is performed. At the same time, patients often undergo surgery to enlarge, reduce or lift the natural breast to match the reconstructed breast.
 
 Options for Breast Reconstruction
 
 Skin Expansion
 
 At the time of mastectomy, a balloon expander is inserted beneath the skin and chest muscle. This balloon expander, is very much  like a deflated breast implant. Following the surgery, the patient makes periodic visits to the office where a salt water solution is injected through a tiny valve mechanism in the balloon expander to gradually fill the expander over several weeks or months. After the skin over the breast area has stretched enough, the balloon expander is removed and a more permanent implant is inserted.
 
 Flap Reconstruction
 
 As an alternative to using an implant, the breast can be reconstructed using thepatient's own skin and fat taken from other parts of the body, such as the backor abdomen. The tissue usually remains attached to its original site, retaining its blood supply. The flap, consisting of the skin, fat and muscle with its bloodsupply are tunneled beneath the skin to the chest, creating the breast mound itself. In general, flap reconstruction is more complex than balloon expansion.