Correction after breast-conserving surgery
After breast-conserving surgery and radiotherapy, the breast can be smaller, firmer or drawn in. With your own fat, and sometimes a small lift or reduction of the other breast, I restore the shape and balance.
Where:Alexander Monro Hospital, Bilthoven
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 to 2 hours
- Anaesthesia
- General anaesthetic
- Hospital stay
- Day surgery
- Stages
- Sometimes more than one treatment
- Insurance
- Usually basic health insurance
Who is it for?
- Your breast has a dent or a sunken scar after breast-conserving surgery
- The irradiated skin feels tight or hard
- Your breasts differ in size or shape
The procedure
I use your own fat to fill the dent and make tight tissue more supple. Fat can improve the quality of irradiated skin.
Sometimes I also adjust the other breast with a lift or reduction, so that both breasts match again.
Recovery, step by step
First week
Bruising and swelling, and compression garments where the fat was removed.
Weeks 2 to 4
Moving normally and back to work.
After 3 to 6 months
The fat has taken. We assess whether a second round would help.
This is a general guide. We will discuss your own recovery time in the consultation.
Risks and complications
Care matters in every surgical treatment. Complications cannot always be prevented, but we do everything we can to keep the risks as small as possible.
In the consultation I take the time to explain what you can expect from the treatment and which risks may be involved. That way you can make a well-informed, confident choice that is right for you.
- Bleeding after the operation or bruising
- Wound infection
- Slow wound healing
- Scars that stay thick or red
- Firm lumps or oil cysts in the fat
- A second treatment may be needed
Insurance cover
A correction after breast cancer is usually covered by the Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering). Please discuss this with your treatment team.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to wait after radiotherapy?
We usually wait until the skin has settled, often at least six months to a year after radiotherapy. We will decide on this together.
A good conversation is the first step.
In the consultation I take the time to answer your questions. You go home with honest advice and no obligation.