Breast Reconstruction Surgery in Manhattan, NY
Your Journey Back to Yourself Starts Here
- Board-Certified Reconstructive Surgeon
- Advanced Flap Techniques and Resensation
- Coordinating With Your Oncology Team
- A Commitment to Breast Cancer Patients
Manhattan’s Choice for Breast Reconstruction
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Ravi Tandon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a distinction that requires a plastic surgeon to pass rigorous exams and complete advanced training that extends beyond what’s expected for medical licensure. He’s a prime choice for quality, considerate, and natural-looking reconstruction.
Advanced Reconstructive Techniques
Our plastic surgeon in Manhattan, NY, stays up to date with the latest developments in the field of reconstruction. He offers many flap techniques based on his patients’ preferences and is fellowship-trained in complex reconstructive microsurgery, so he can assist with resensation in many cases.
A Focus on Breast Cancer Patients
Dr. Tandon is invested in helping women who are preparing for, have recently completed, or have long since completed a mastectomy feel like themselves again. He understands the deeply personal nature of every patient’s journey, and can help guide you through this part of yours.
Feel Like Yourself Again
If you underwent a mastectomy or double mastectomy, you may feel as though you’re missing an important part of yourself and your femininity. Dr. Ravi Tandon offers advanced reconstructive options for Manhattan patients who wish to feel whole once again.
We know the process can feel overwhelming, but Dr. Tandon and our team will explain your options, work hand-in-hand with your care provider, and develop a custom surgical plan that considers your preferences and cancer treatment timeline. Together, we can help you feel more like your former self.
Care Is Often Covered by Insurance
Under the Women's Health and Cancer Act of 1998, all stages of breast reconstruction (mastectomy, reconstruction, and prostheses) are typically covered by health insurance. Breast reconstruction is also covered under Medicare. This applies whether reconstruction is done immediately or years later.
If you’re uninsured or have out-of-pocket costs, our Manhattan team can explore financing options with you to make the cost of your care more manageable.
Qualifying for Reconstruction
Most women who have had or are planning to have a mastectomy are candidates for breast reconstruction. The bigger question isn't if you can have it. It's which approach is right for you and when. To determine this, your Manhattan reconstructive surgeon will consider your:
- Overall Health: Patients must be in good general health for any surgery. Conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or autoimmune disorders don't necessarily disqualify you, but they do affect healing and may influence which technique is safest. We will also ask you to stop smoking long before and long after your surgery.
- Treatment Plan: If radiation is part of your treatment plan, it will affect skin elasticity and can increase the risk of complications with implants, so your surgeon may recommend delaying reconstruction or a natural tissue approach. Chemotherapy timing also factors in, as your body needs adequate time to recover between treatments.
- Timing: Immediate reconstruction begins at the same time as your mastectomy, which means fewer total surgeries, less scarring, and preserved breast skin that can lead to more natural-looking results. Delayed reconstruction is done months or years after mastectomy and may be the right choice if you need post-mastectomy radiation, prefer to focus on cancer treatment first, or simply need more time to make your decision.
- Personal Goals: Dr. Tandon wants to understand what matters most to you. Do you want to avoid implants? Do you prefer reconstruction using your own tissue? Are you most concerned about minimizing surgery time and recovery? Are you hoping to restore sensation? Your answers will shape every aspect of your personalized surgical plan.
A consultation with our board-certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan is the best way to learn what's possible for you.
Give Your Breasts a Focal Point
If you didn’t undergo a nipple-sparing mastectomy, Dr. Tandon also has options to reconstruct your nipples:
- Skin Flap: Small flaps of skin on your reconstructed breast are used to create a nipple mound.
- Skin Graft: Skin from another area of the body is transferred to the breast and carefully crafted into a nipple.
- Autologous Graft: If you have enough tissue on your unaffected breast, it can be transferred to the affected breast, and your surgeon can create a new nipple.
- Medical Tattooing: We work alongside an artist who specializes in medical tattooing, who can create a lifelike 3D tattoo of your areola and nipple.
FAQ About Breast Reconstruction
Surgery in Manhattan, NY
Do I have to decide on reconstruction before my mastectomy?
No, but it's worth having the conversation early. Meeting with our reconstructive surgeon before your mastectomy allows your surgical team to coordinate and gives you more options, including immediate reconstruction (done at the same time as the mastectomy). That said, delayed reconstruction is equally valid and produces excellent results.
What is a DIEP flap?
The DIEP (Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator) flap is often considered the gold standard of natural tissue breast reconstruction. It uses skin and fat from the lower abdomen while leaving the underlying muscle completely intact. The result is a reconstructed breast made entirely from your own tissue, and an easier recovery than methods that use abdominal muscle tissue.
Will breast reconstruction interfere with cancer monitoring?
No, reconstruction does not prevent or interfere with follow-up imaging, including mammograms and MRIs. Your oncology team and reconstructive surgeon will communicate to ensure your monitoring schedule stays on track.
Can I have reconstruction if I need radiation?
Yes, though radiation does affect your options. Radiation can reduce skin elasticity and increase the risk of complications with implants, which is why surgeons often recommend flap-based reconstruction for patients who will undergo radiation.
