Page 107 2026 PAINT THE PAPER PINK Lincoln Daily News Oct/Nov 2026 What will my breasts look like after surgery? Breast reconstruction often leaves scars, but these usually fade over time. Newer methods have also reduced the amount of scarring. When you wear a bra after reconstruction, your breasts should be relatively alike in size and shape. It’s important to know that your reconstructed breast may not look exactly how you expect. You can ask your surgeon to show you examples of people who’ve had reconstruction. This can give you a better idea of what to expect. Keep in mind that your reconstructed breast will not be a perfect match or substitute for your natural breast. A rebuilt breast will not feel the same to the touch as a natural breast. You may also have little or no feeling in the breast. Talking with your plastic surgeon can help you understand what is realistic. You might also choose to have surgery on the other breast, so both sides look more alike. This is called a symmetrizing procedure. It may include lifting, reducing, or enlarging the other breast. What other changes should I expect? If tissue from your belly, back, thigh, or buttocks was used as part of the reconstruction, those areas will also look different after surgery. Before you make your decision, talk with your surgeon about scars and changes in the shape or contour of your body. Ask where these scars and changes will be and how they will look and feel after they heal. Can a reconstructed breast hide cancer or make it come back? Studies show that reconstruction does not make breast cancer come back. If the cancer does come back, reconstructed breasts should not cause problems finding the cancer or treating it. • Reconstruction rarely hides a return of breast cancer. • This is true for both reconstruction with an implant and reconstruction with your own tissue (tissue flap). • You should not consider this a big risk when deciding to have breast reconstruction.
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