Over the last few years there have been dramatic developments in techniques in the field of breast reconstruction. At the same time, however, the demand for this type of reconstruction has grown considerably. Although thanks to the advances in plastic surgery – above all as a result of the surgical techniques of breast reconstruction with autologous tissue and microsurgical techniques – the reconstruction of an appropriate breast shape is possible for almost every woman, the expectations placed on the aesthetic appearance of the newly formed breast and the level of acceptance by the affected patient should not be over-high.
All surgical measures have the objective of reconstructing a breast which in shape and volume most closely resembles the opposite breast. However, it is not possible to reconstruct a breast which completely corresponds to the removed breast. The development and refinement of the techniques today has progressed so far that a completely satisfying result can be attained for the patient concerned in most cases.