|
Questions to Ask Your Surgeon about Breast Reconstruction
The following list of questions may help to remind you of topics to discuss with your surgeon. You may have additional questions as well.
- What are all my options for breast reconstruction?
- What are the risks and complications of each type of breast reconstruction surgery and how common are they?
- What if my cancer recurs or occurs in the other breast?
- Will reconstruction interfere with my cancer treatment?
- How many steps are there in each procedure? What are they? How much experience do you have with each procedure? What is the estimated total cost of each procedure?
- How long will it take to complete my reconstruction?
- Do you have before and after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?
- What will my scars look like?
- What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect over time?
- What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect with pregnancy?
- What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breast?
- How much pain or discomfort will I feel and for how long?
- How long will I be in the hospital? Will I need blood transfusions, and can I donate my own blood?
- When will I be able to resume my normal activity (such as athletic activity, sexual activity)?
|