Breast Reconstruction Statistics

Battling and surviving breast cancer is an act of courage and bravery. Following a mastectomy, many women decide to undergo breast reconstruction surgery. Breast reconstruction with implants or patient's own grafted tissue restores the appearance of the breasts and can also help you feel whole again. Dr. Ravi Tandon has helped numerous women in the greater New Orleans, LA area thanks to modern breast reconstruction surgery techniques.

Numbers, facts, and figures can put many matters into perspective. With this in mind, we would like to go over some statistics on breast reconstruction surgery that should give you a good understanding of its importance and its ability to change lives for the better.

Breast Cancer Statistics

According to breastcancer.org, an estimated 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This year, medical experts estimate that there will be 266,120 invasive breast cancer diagnoses and 63,960 non-invasive breast cancer diagnoses.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Statistics

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were 106,295 breast reconstruction procedures performed in 2017. This is down roughly 3 percent from 2016, in which 109,256 breast reconstructions were performed.

Trends in Breast Reconstruction Numbers

While breast cancer numbers have been decreasing since the year 2000, the number of breast reconstruction surgeries performed have been generally trending upward. Indeed, ASPS numbers show that just 78,832 breast reconstruction surgeries were performed in 2000. Previous analysis by the ASPS in 2016 noted a 39 percent procedural increase in breast reconstruction surgeries compared to the year 2000.

What to Make of These Breast Reconstruction Trends

The decrease in breast cancer numbers can be attributed to increased awareness campaigns and a focus on early detection of breast cancer in the last two decades. Clearly these campaigns have had a positive impact.

The increase in breast reconstruction surgeries, on the other hand, may be due more women taking a proactive role in wellness and recovery following breast cancer survival. The rise in patient requests for preventative bilateral mastectomy with breast reconstruction may also play a role in these numbers.

Immediate Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

The ASPS notes that less than half of women who undergo a mastectomy are offered breast reconstruction. Of those offered breast reconstruction, fewer than 20 percent elect to undergo the procedure immediately. These choices stem from a host of reasons, from personal decisions to medical matters.

Breast Implants vs. Autologous Tissue Reconstruction

Autologous tissue breast reconstruction means that a patient’s own tissues are used to rebuild the breasts/breast mound. According to a new survey of more than 2,000 American women from the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium (MROC), patient satisfaction tended to be higher among women who underwent autologous breast reconstruction when compared to implant reconstruction. This is usually the result of asymmetry a few years after getting the initial implants, requiring revision work.

Keep in mind that patient satisfaction is still good with implant reconstruction methods, and revision procedures help enhance the aesthetic results and overall feelings of satisfaction among patients.

Learn More About Breast Reconstruction

For more information about breast reconstruction surgery and the role in can play in your life after surviving breast cancer, contact an experienced cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon. Dr. Tandon is here to help. You can reach his office by phone at (504) 455-1000.