How many procedures to make a breast?

The construction of a new breast after mastectomy involves fashioning the b reast mound and creating a projecting nipple and a coloured areola. This sh ould involve three episodes for a patient, but is this the experience of pa tients embarking on breast reconstruction? We identified 177 patients who h ad undergone breast reconstruction between I September 1997 and 31 March 19 99. The clinical records for 164 of these patients were found and the data summarised. The techniques, complications and other ancillary procedures ex perienced by this group of patients are presented. Multiple procedures are likely to be required to complete breast reconstruction, and the patient sh ould be so counselled from the outset. Particular problems may be encounter ed with each technique and this should be borne in mind when selecting a pr ocedure for each patient, especially in the context of immediate reconstruc tion where avoiding any delay to adjuvant treatment is a consideration. (C) 2001 The British Association of Plastic Surgeons.