ABSTRACT
This more focused management of symptomatic breast disease sporned the breast surgical specialist; breast surgery is now a recognized subspecialty of general surgery with a structured training program for designated “breast surgeons.” In parallel with this development of breast surgery as a subspecialty, increasing numbers of women are demanding reconstruction and cosmetic expectations are high. With a general shortage of plastic surgeons available to undertake breast reconstruction (and much geographical variation in service provision), many breast surgeons have extended their surgical repertoire to include immediate reconstruction. There are several advantages of immediate, over delayed, reconstruction including superior cosmetic results with the use of skin-sparing techniques, which are restricted to immediate reconstructive procedures. Patients benefit psychologically from not having to adjust to the disfigurement of mastectomy and further hospitalization and general anesthesia are avoided.
