Editing Breast reconstruction (section)

== Timing ==
Breast reconstruction can be performed either immediately following the mastectomy or as a separate procedure at a later date, known as immediate reconstruction and delayed reconstruction, respectively. The decision of when breast reconstruction will take place is patient-specific and based on many different factors. Breast reconstruction is a large undertaking that usually requires multiple operations.  These subsequent surgeries may be spread out over weeks or months.

=== Immediate reconstruction ===
Breast reconstruction is termed "immediate" when it takes place during the same procedure as the mastectomy. Within the United States, approximately 35% of women who have undergone a total mastectomy for breast cancer will choose to pursue immediate breast reconstruction.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Plastic surgery.| vauthors = Neligan P, Warren RJ, Van Beek A |isbn=978-0-323-35695-4|edition=4th|location=London|oclc=1006385273|date = 2017-08-08}}</ref>  One of the inherent advantages of immediate reconstruction is the potential for a single-stage procedure. This also means that the cost of immediate reconstruction is often far less to the patient.  It can also reduce hospital costs by having fewer procedures and requiring a shorter length of the stay as an inpatient.<ref name=":3" />  Additionally, immediate reconstruction often has a better cosmetic result because of the preservation of anatomic landmarks and skin.<ref name=":2" /> With regards to psychosocial outcomes, opinions on timing have shifted in favor of immediate reconstruction. Originally, delayed reconstruction was believed to provide patients with time to psychologically adjust to the mastectomy and its effects on body image. However, this opinion is no longer widely held.<ref name=":2" /> Compared to delayed procedures, immediate reconstruction can have a more positive psychological impact on patients and their self-esteem, most likely due to the post-operative breast more closely resembling the natural breast compared to the defect left by mastectomy alone.<ref name=":3" />

=== Delayed reconstruction ===
Delayed breast reconstruction is considered more challenging than immediate reconstruction. Frequently not just breast volume, but also skin surface area needs to be restored. Many patients undergoing delayed breast reconstruction have been previously treated with radiation or have had a reconstruction failure with immediate breast reconstruction. In nearly all cases of delayed breast reconstruction tissue must be borrowed from another part of the body to make the new breast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.drdec.com/|title=Dr. Wojciech Dec Plastic Surgery|website=drdec}}</ref> Patients expected to receive [[radiation therapy]] as part of their adjuvant treatment are also commonly considered for delayed autologous reconstruction due to significantly higher complication rates with tissue expander-implant techniques in those patients.<ref name=":3" />  While waiting to begin breast reconstruction until several months after radiation therapy may decrease the risk of complications, this risk will always be higher in patients who have received radiation therapy.<ref name=":3" /> As with many other surgeries, patients with significant medical comorbidities (e.g., [[high blood pressure]], [[obesity]], [[diabetes]]) and [[Tobacco smoking|smokers]] are higher-risk candidates.<ref name=":3" />  Surgeons may choose to perform delayed reconstruction to decrease this risk.