Decision-Making Support
Understanding Risks & Benefits
Choosing whether—and how—to rebuild your breast after mastectomy is a deeply personal decision. Each option comes with potential benefits and possible risks. Understanding both sides can help you make choices that align with your health, your lifestyle, and your priorities.
At Coastal Hope for Healing, we believe knowledge is the foundation of confident decision-making. This guide outlines the most common reconstruction approaches and what patients often consider when weighing risks and benefits.
Implant-Based Reconstruction
Benefits
Shorter surgery compared to flap procedures.
No donor site (no need to borrow tissue from another part of your body).
Widely available and performed by many surgeons.
Predictable results with implant sizing and shape.
Shorter hospital stay and quicker early recovery.
Risks
Multiple surgeries may be needed, especially if starting with a tissue expander.
Implant-related complications (rupture, capsular contracture, rippling).
Not always permanent —implants may need replacement over time.
Less natural feel compared to your own tissue.
May be affected by radiation (higher risk of scarring or implant loss).
Natural Tissue (Autologous) Reconstruction
Benefits
Uses your own tissue for a soft, natural look and feel.
More permanent—results often last a lifetime.
Ages with your body, maintaining more natural changes over time.
No implant-related risks.
Can provide additional contouring (e.g., tummy tuck effect with DIEP/TRAM).
Risks
Longer surgery and hospital stay (often 4–6+ hours).
Donor site healing —may involve abdomen, back, thighs, or buttocks.
Longer recovery time compared to implants.
Scarring in two places (chest and donor site).
Risk of flap loss (rare but possible if blood vessels don’t connect well).
Combination (Hybrid) Reconstruction
Benefits
Adds volume by combining implants with your own tissue.
Improves shape and symmetry, especially when one method alone isn’t enough.
Can be helpful if donor tissue is limited.
Risks
Inherits risks of both methods (implant-related and flap-related).
More complex surgery than implants alone.
May require additional follow-up procedures for best results.
Aesthetic Flat Closure (No Reconstruction)
Benefits
Shortest surgery and recovery.
No implant or flap risks.
Permanent choice that avoids future procedures.
Allows focus on healing and moving forward without additional surgery.
Risks
Not reversible if you change your mind later (reconstruction can be harder after flat closure).
Adjustment to body image can be emotionally challenging.
Limited symmetry if only one breast is removed.
Additional Considerations
Radiation Therapy – Can increase risks with implants and sometimes affect flap healing.
Future Pregnancies or Weight Changes – May affect flap reconstruction results.
Recovery Time – Implants usually allow faster early recovery; flaps require longer healing but may reduce need for future surgeries.
Lifestyle Goals – Some patients prioritize fewer surgeries, while others prioritize natural feel or long-term permanence.
Final Word
Every breast reconstruction option comes with trade-offs. There is no one “right” path—only the one that feels best for you. Some women prioritize a natural look, others prefer fewer surgeries, and many choose to embrace life without reconstruction.