What are the risks of breast reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction can help some people feel better about their body after their breast is removed.
However, there is a higher chance of problems healing from the incision, compared to mastectomy without reconstruction. The incision is where the surgeon makes a cut to do the reconstruction surgery.
Problems can include:
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A major infection at the site of the incision
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The incision re-opening
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Tissue damage
Some of these side effects can be treated with medicines, others may need more surgery. Not all people have these side effects or outcomes.
What is the chance of problems healing from reconstruction surgery?
Things about a person’s health or health history can raise their chances of health problems. Doctors call these “risk factors.” Your chances of having problems healing from the reconstruction surgery depends on your risk factors.
Risk factors for problems healing from reconstruction surgery include:
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Your weight
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Other health conditions you may have, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease
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If you use nicotine products
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Your mental health or mental health conditions
Answer these health questions to get an estimate of your risk of problems healing from reconstruction surgery
If you would like to know more about your own chances of problems healing from the incision, please answer the questions below about your health. Some of these questions might be surprising, but these can affect how you heal. The more questions you answer, the better we can estimate your chances of having problems healing.
2. What is your weight (in pounds)?
3. What is your height(in feet and inches)?
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Pipes
- Chewing tobacco
- Nicotine gum or patch
- Vapes or e-cigarettes
- Cigarettes
- Cigars
- Pipes
- Chewing tobacco
- Nicotine gum or patch
- Vapes or e-cigarettes
Your chance of problems healing from immediate breast reconstruction surgery
With the same risk factors you have, 7 out of 100 people have problems healing after a mastectomy plus immediate breast reconstruction.
With no risk factors, 7 out of 100 people have problems healing after a mastectomy plus immediate breast reconstruction.
This helps you learn about your specific risk factors and talk to your doctor about your choice.
Talk to your doctor about what this means. Print or take a screenshot of this page to bring to your next appointment.
These estimates come from looking at thousands of people who had immediate breast reconstruction. The chance of problems is lower for delayed reconstruction, but we don’t have exact numbers. Hospitals and doctors may also have information about their infection rates.