Dr. Elizabeth O’Connor is a plastic surgeon with Plastic Surgery & Skin Specialists by BayCare Clinic, she joined us on Wisconsin Tonight to talk about Breast Reconstruction Laws.
BRAs of Broadway is an event that invites businesses around Broadway and elsewhere in downtown Green Bay to decorate and display bras in an effort to create recognition for National B.R.A. Day. National B.R.A. Day or Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day helps raise awareness of breast reconstruction law.
Breast Reconstruction Law is a federal law mandating insurance coverage of breast reconstruction for all breast cancer patients, even if the reconstruction is delayed until after cancer treatment is completed. Very few people know about this law, even some breast cancer patients. It is a right we all deserve and one that everyone needs to know about so they are aware of their options when it comes to breast reconstruction surgery.
Undergoing breast reconstruction can have profound emotional and practical benefits. It can help enhance confidence and self-image after mastectomy. Most women who undergo breast reconstruction benefit greatly from the procedure including regained wholeness and femininity, as well as practical benefits such as eliminating the need for a cumbersome breast prosthesis.
Asking your surgeon any of these basic questions should help start a more in-depth conversation and begin to put you at ease with the procedure:
* Am I an ideal candidate for breast reconstruction surgery?
* What type of breast reconstruction procedure is best for me?
* How many of these have you done?
* What will my breast look like after surgery?
* Realistically, what results can I expect?
It’s important to understand the basics of the procedure itself. Breast reconstruction can be done with breast implants (filled with saline or silicone); natural tissue flaps (using skin, fat and sometimes, muscle from your own body); or a combination of these methods. There is no one best reconstruction method. There are pros and cons to each. Your surgeon should be able to help guide your decision-making and determine which procedure will work best for your situation.
Visit baycare.net/BRAday for more information.
