Surgery to the other breast after breast reconstruction

Surgeons carrying out breast reconstruction| aim to match the size and shape of the reconstructed breast to your other breast. This is not always possible, so they may suggest you have an operation on your natural breast to give a better match.

This can involve:

Breast reduction (mammaplasty) If your natural breast is larger than the reconstructed breast it can be reduced in size and altered in shape so that the final appearance is balanced.
Breast lifting and reshaping (mastopexy) If your natural breast is more droopy than the reconstructed breast it can be lifted and reshaped.
Breast enlargement (augmentation) If your reconstructed breast is larger than your other breast and you prefer the larger breast, the natural breast can be made bigger with a silicone implant. This can sometimes be combined with a breast lift.

Surgery to your other breast will cause some scars, but these will fade with time. Some operations, such as repositioning the nipple, may lead to reduction or loss of sensation in the nipple.

Content last reviewed: 1 June 2011

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