Delayed Breast Reconstruction after Mastectomy

When you first received your breast cancer diagnosis, it may have seemed like there was a mountain of information and a number of choices you needed to make in order to move forward with treatment in a timely fashion and have your best chances for a favorable outcome. In this hectic time, many women are not provided with information about reconstructing a breast lost to cancer, since this topic is often considered secondary to life-saving breast cancer treatment.

Other women are told about their breast reconstruction options, but feel that having immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy is too much too soon. No matter your reasons, you are now considering breast reconstruction and Orange County breast surgeon Andrew Smith, MD, FACS is dedicated to helping you understand your options completely so that you can decide whether reconstruction fits with your priorities following mastectomy.

In his years as a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Smith has performed both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction, successfully working with other medical professionals in a patient's treatment team to create satisfying results and help women "move on" from their cancer diagnosis.

Site Resources

Dr. Smith is focused on providing relevant and up-to-date information on key topics related to breast reconstruction. You can request a consultation online to schedule a time to talk with him one-on-one, or learn more about your options by browsing some of the helpful resources he has made available on this Web site:

• Who is a Candidate?: Delayed breast reconstruction is a very common approach to recreating a breast lost to cancer. Learn more about whether it is right for you.
• Insurance and Breast Reconstruction: Federal law requires coverage for breast reconstruction even if not performed at the time of mastectomy.
• Surgical Techniques:: Breast reconstruction techniques include the use of breast implants or tissue transplanted from another area of your body. Patients also can choose to have the nipple and areola reconstructed.
• Real Patient Stories: What better way to learn about breast reconstruction than to hear firsthand from women who have had the procedure from Dr. Smith?
• Preparing for Your Procedure: Breast reconstruction requires taking special precautions prior to the day of surgery.
• Potential Risks & Complications: To ensure breast reconstruction is right for you, you need to be aware of the potential risks and complications.
• What to Expect after Surgery: The healing process may last for weeks after breast reconstruction. Orange County patients can be more at ease if they know what to expect ahead of time.

Visit Dr. Smith

Register online for an appointment at our office.

Photo Gallery

Real patients share their before and after photos.

Next Steps: Breast Reconstruction in Orange County

Dr. Smith is available to guide and support you through the post-mastectomy breast reconstruction process by providing information and answers to common questions. If you are interested in finding out whether reconstruction can help you close the book on your breast cancer diagnosis, get in touch with him when you request a consultation online or call his office at 949.242.0851 (Irvine) or 951.817.7049 (Corona).