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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer affects millions of people all over the world. This means that almost everybody knows someone who has battled the disease. According to the World Health Organization, knowledge of breast cancer can lead to early detection, which can save lives. Many women who have beaten breast cancer are curious about breast reconstruction surgery. Dr. Jhonny Salomon has over 22 years of experience as a plastic surgeon. He wants breast cancer survivors to know that breast reconstruction can be both safe and effective after a mastectomy.

A mastectomy is when a breast, or portion of a breast, is removed to terminate cancer. The amount of breast tissue your doctor will have to remove depends on how far cancer has spread. This is why early detection is so important. According to Dr. Salomon, he frequently recommends that women interested in breast reconstruction get one during the mastectomy. He says the benefits of this decision can be both physical and emotional. First of all, it reduces the number of surgeries required. Secondly, if you have the procedures done simultaneously, you can wake up with the “new breast” already in place. This can be psychologically easier than waking up and finding your breast completely gone.

But Dr. Salomon says it’s impossible to make this decision on your own. If you are considering breast reconstruction immediately following a mastectomy, it is important to conference with your doctor and your plastic surgeon. They will make a recommendation based on the spread of your cancer. According to Dr. Salomon, this is the best way to ensure your safety and optimal results. You want both your doctor and your plastic surgeon to agree that you’re eligible before you proceed.

In Dr. Salomon’s 22 years of practice, he says that breast reconstruction surgery has been the most rewarding part of his career. Losing a breast to cancer is traumatic for most of the survivors. Receiving a new one can be life-changing. Ultimately, Dr. Salomon says he hopes his work can boost confidence and help women heal emotionally after overcoming breast cancer.

 

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