Research Shows More Women Choosing Reconstruction after Mastectomy

For over 25 years, board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. L. Franklyn Elliott has performed breast reconstruction for patients who have undergone breast-cancer removing procedures. Breast reconstruction is an emotional experience, and Dr. Elliott discusses concerns and questions with each patient to find the best technique to fit their unique needs and provide natural-looking results. As a result of new research, studies find that the majority of women with breast cancer are opting to undergo breast reconstruction following their mastectomies, indicating a shift in outlooks towards the reconstructive procedure.

breast-reconstruction-atlantaIn 1998, researchers from the study discovered as many as 46% of women who had a mastectomy underwent breast reconstruction surgery. This has grown nearly 20%–by 2007, 63% of women undergoing mastectomies were opting for reconstructive procedures.

The researchers reviewed insurance data claims from a nationwide employment-based database of medical-related claims. A total of 20,506 women underwent a mastectomy to treat their breast cancer between 1998 and 2007. Overall, the rate of women getting bilateral mastectomies increased six times during the study period, and 75% of those women had breast reconstruction. Geographic variation influenced the amount of women undergoing reconstruction following breast cancer removal—the quantity of women was linked to the number of plastic surgeons in their state.

Breast reconstruction has a big impact on quality of life for breast cancer survivors. The improvement in techniques and results has been a significant part of the increased interest in breast reconstruction after mastectomy, in my opinion. Thus the quality of life has been enhanced after reconstruction, results have improved, and recovery times have shortened,” declares Dr. Elliott.

Many women are good candidates for breast reconstruction surgery after breast cancer removal. While you may not be a candidate for all breast reconstruction surgery types, there is an assortment of reconstructive options to meet your needs. During a consultation with Dr. Elliott, he will discuss which breast reconstruction technique can best fit your needs.

For more information about breast procedures performed by Dr. Elliott please call our office today to schedule a consultation. Don’t forget to follow us on FacebookTwitter, and Google + for all the latest information on breast research and technology.