Breast Symmetry Surgery

Breast Reconstruction

Breast Symmetry Surgery

One common concern for patients who have breast cancer and are having surgery on only one breast is how will the other breast look in comparison to the reconstructed breast? Thanks to the dedication of PRMA’s Dr. Steven Pisano and other leaders in the field of breast reconstruction, legislation passed in 1998 mandates health insurance companies provide insurance coverage for breast symmetry procedures after a medically-necessary mastectomy or lumpectomy. This means that if a person has breast reconstruction or lumpectomy on one side, insurance companies must cover further procedures to help improve the overall breast symmetry.

There Are Several Surgical Approaches That Can Be Used To Improve Breast Symmetry

Depending on the type of reconstruction, the reconstructed breast may appear larger, smaller, more perky, or less perky. Some of the most common procedures include:

an implant placed in the non-cancer breast (breast augmentation) to create a larger breast to match the reconstructed breast
implant exchange (for a different sized implant)
breast reduction
breast lift (mastopexy) to correct breast ptosis (“droopiness”)
fat grafting to add volume to a reconstructed breast