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| Benefits and Limitations |  Benefits of Breast Reconstruction
 You will not have to put on an external artificial breast (prosthesis).
In clothes (or underwear, or a swimsuit), your appearance will be the same as before your surgery.
Even without clothes, you may feel better with a reconstructed breast giving you a more natural shape.
It can help to restore your self-confidence and feelings of femininity, attractiveness and sexuality.
Breast reconstruction procedure does not limit any later treatments that might be required. It does not slow down radiotherapy, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. Scans and x-rays of the breast area are still possible and if the cancer gets back in the breast area, this can still be found.
Limitations
It is significant that you know what breast reconstruction may be able to do in your situation, before making a decision about whether to have it. You need to have practical expectations about the possible result and be aware of the limitations. Often, two or more operations over a period of about six months may be required to give the breast a good look.
Reconstruction will not be able to give back the precise appearance and shape of your breast.
Your new breast will not have the sensitivity of your natural breast.
If you have children afterwards, you will not be able to breastfeed from the breast that has been reconstructed. On the other hand, you should be able to breastfeed with the other breast if you wish to.
Most women require having two or three operations to get a good match with the opposite breast. After the first surgery, additional operations may be needed to tidy up the scars, and liposuction may be used to further shape the reconstructed breast.
You may also need to have an operation on your other breast to decrease or enlarge the size.
Nipple reconstruction may involve further minor surgery.
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