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How is the first stage of breast reconstruction performed?

Immediately following a mastectomy, the surgeon will create a pouch under the chest muscle. Next, a tissue expander made of silicone is placed in the pouch. The chest remains flat, but after two to three weeks, the surgeon will inject a small amount of saline through a valve into the expander. The surgeon will continue to do this every one to two weeks until the expander slowly enlarges the pouch to the correct size to place the implant. After the allotted time, the permanent breast implant is placed.  

Are there two stages for bilateral breast reconstruction?

How long does it take to recover from breast reconstruction surgery?

What does it feel like after breast reconstruction surgery?

Are two stages of bilateral breast reconstruction necessary?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

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Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

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