Hello,
I have heard delayed reconstruction should be "at least 6-12 months" after radiation treatments finish. I'm curious how long after radiation you had reconstruction and/or other breast surgeries?
Thanks for your input!
I had my right mastectomy in February 2023, chemo straight after for 6 months, radiation for a month (finishing in October 2023) and then my reconstruction journey started in February 2025. I was told to wait also as the Dr needs to see how your body has changed after the radiation damage. This can take 12 months so it was not recommended I start recon for over 12 months after radiation. I hope this helps. I wish you all the very best in your recon journey.
Ask for more than one opinion is my only advice. I have been told completely different things...you don't mention what you're hoping to get done, but I wanted a bilateral DIEP flap recon & going private due to possible long wait going public. First plastic surgeon said he wouldn't look at it for 6mths to wait for fibrosis to settle and I couldn't keep my nipples - that didn't gel with what I had read in the research. A completely different outcome with the second plastic surgeon who has booked me in for surgery 6wks after radiation has finished (in 2 wks time) keeping nipples using the inframammary fold - his practice's experience is that although there is some settling/fibrosis it doesn't affect the outcome significantly in the patients their practice has seen (500+ but don't know how many of those were done very early) but it can result in higher cost of the revision surgery that would be out of my pocket.
Hi NicoleUTM
I didn't have major reconstruction after my surgery as my surgeon was able to do a 'mini one' at the same time ... just moving some fat around to fill the hole that was created when the tumours were removed ......
Hopefully someone will jump on soon & answer your question.
Perhaps if you join the Reconstruction Private Group, you may get a quicker reply?
Group: Choosing breast reconstruction | BCNA Online Network
In the mean time, check out this 'search' that shows some discussion re "Reconstruction after Radiation" & should explain the timeframe.
Search | BCNA Online Network
Take care & all the best
