Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction

When the breast cancer surgeon is able to preserve more breast skin and even the nipple, the process of tissue expansion is sometimes not needed. A direct-to-implant breast reconstruction describes when the permanent implant is placed at the time of the mastectomy. Women who are good candidates for direct-to-implant breast reconstruction tend to have smaller breasts and want to stay roughly the same size after surgery. Direct-to-implant reconstruction also requires healthy skin flaps following the mastectomy, so the decision between a tissue expander and an implant is often made in the operating room.