What to Expect
- Anesthesia: General
- Length of surgery: Varies by technique
- Outpatient/inpatient: Varies by technique
- Adjunct procedures: Breast lift or breast reduction for opposite breast symmetry
Rebuilding After a Mastectomy
A breast cancer diagnosis brings a series of decisions that tend to arrive faster than anyone would like, and reconstruction is one of them. It is a personal choice about how you want to feel in your body after treatment. At Edina Plastic Surgery, founded in 1977 and trusted across the Twin Cities for nearly five decades, breast reconstruction is led by Dr. Kelsey Baran, a fellowship-trained plastic surgeon and board-certified general surgeon whose focus centers on reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery.
Dr. Baran works alongside your cancer care team so reconstruction fits into your treatment plan rather than complicating it. Her aim is a result that looks balanced and feels like you, at a pace that respects everything you are already carrying.
What Is Breast Reconstruction?
Breast reconstruction is a surgical procedure that rebuilds the shape of a breast after it has been removed or changed by cancer treatment. It can restore one or both breasts following a mastectomy, reshape the breast after a lumpectomy, or address differences a woman has had since birth.
Dr. Baran performs immediate reconstruction, which begins during the mastectomy itself, as well as delayed reconstruction, planned for later once treatment is complete. Reconstruction usually happens in stages rather than a single surgery, and later steps can include rebuilding the nipple and areola once the breast has healed. She maps out that full timeline with you from the start.
Breast Reconstruction Options at Edina Plastic Surgery
No single method suits everyone, so Dr. Baran matches the technique to your anatomy, your cancer treatment, and your goals.
Implant-Based Reconstruction
Implant-based reconstruction rebuilds the breast with a saline or silicone implant, similar to those used in breast augmentation. Often, a tissue expander is placed first to stretch the skin gradually, and then it’s exchanged for a permanent implant once the tissue is ready. When conditions allow, Dr. Baran can place the implant in one step, called direct-to-implant reconstruction.
Flap (Autologous) Reconstruction
Flap reconstruction rebuilds the breast with your own tissue, usually skin, fat, and sometimes muscle, from another area of the body. Dr. Baran performs latissimus flap reconstruction, which borrows tissue from the upper back, along with selected TRAM and other flap techniques that use abdominal or nearby tissue. Because the breast is rebuilt from living tissue, it changes naturally with your body over time.
Oncoplastic and Lumpectomy Reshaping
For women who have a lumpectomy rather than a full mastectomy, oncoplastic techniques reshape the remaining breast tissue during the same procedure, keeping a natural contour as the tumor is removed.
Implant-Based Reconstruction |
Flap Reconstruction |
|
| Tissue source | Saline or silicone implant | Your own skin, fat, and tissue |
| Surgery and recovery | Often shorter, may be staged | Longer, with one main donor site |
| How results age | Implants may need future revision | Changes naturally with your body |
Once the breast has healed, Dr. Baran can refine the result with fat grafting, which transfers your own purified fat to smooth contours and add fullness, or with other breast revision techniques.
Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Reconstruction?
Most women who have had or are planning a mastectomy are candidates, including those choosing a preventive mastectomy. Good candidates are in stable health, understand that reconstruction may involve more than one surgery, and hold realistic expectations. Factors such as smoking, radiation, and other treatments can shape which technique is safest for you.
Every reconstruction is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. During a dedicated breast reconstruction consultation, Dr. Baran reviews your treatment plan, walks through your options, and recommends the technique and surgical setting that fit your situation.
“Reconstruction is one of the most personal decisions a woman makes after a mastectomy, and there is rarely a single right answer. My job is to walk you through every option clearly, then help choose the technique and setting that fit your body, your treatment, and the life you want to get back to.” —Dr. Kelsey Baran
Insurance Coverage for Breast Reconstruction
Breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is protected by federal law. Under the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998, group health plans that cover mastectomies must also cover reconstruction of the affected breast, surgery on the other breast for symmetry, breast prostheses, and treatment of related complications such as lymphedema. This applies whether reconstruction happens right away or years later, and it is not limited to cancer patients.
Our team helps you understand your coverage, and for anything not fully covered, we offer several financing options. You can also review our insurance information before your visit.
What to Expect During Breast Reconstruction Recovery
Recovery depends on the technique you and Dr. Baran choose. Flap reconstruction generally calls for more healing time than an implant-based approach, and staged reconstruction spreads recovery across more than one procedure.
Dr. Baran plans each surgery with recovery in mind. She avoids surgical drains whenever possible, uses local anesthesia and nerve blocks to limit narcotic pain medication, and places incisions with hidden scarring in mind. You will go home with detailed aftercare instructions, and a surgeon from our team is reachable around the clock during early recovery.
Why Choose Edina Plastic Surgery for Breast Reconstruction
Edina Plastic Surgery has been a trusted name in Twin Cities plastic surgery since 1977, with board-certified plastic surgeons named Top Doctors by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Dr. Baran brings that standard to reconstruction, backed by a general surgery background that gives her a close understanding of cancer treatment and refined, natural results.
Your surgery takes place in an accredited setting chosen for your case, whether that is our on-site surgical center accredited by Quad A, an off-site surgery center, or M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital across the street. Wherever you have surgery, the Edina Plastic Surgery team you already know stays with you from consultation through recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Reconstruction
Can I Have Breast Reconstruction Years After My Mastectomy?
Yes. Delayed reconstruction can be performed months or years after a mastectomy, once you have finished treatment and feel ready. Federal insurance protections still apply.
How Many Surgeries Does Breast Reconstruction Involve?
It varies. Some reconstructions are completed in a single operation, while others are staged across two or more procedures, such as placing a tissue expander before a permanent implant. Dr. Baran outlines your expected number of stages during your consultation.
Will Reconstruction Affect Future Cancer Screening?
Reconstruction does not stop ongoing monitoring. Your oncology team continues to recommend the follow-up and imaging that fit your history, and Dr. Baran coordinates with your providers so your care stays connected.
Feel Whole Again With Breast Reconstruction in Edina, MN
If you are considering reconstruction, the next step is a conversation with a surgeon who takes the time to understand your goals. To book your consultation with Dr. Baran, call 952-925-1765 or reach out online today. We proudly serve Edina, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Minnetonka, and the surrounding Twin Cities communities.
