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What are the stages of breast reconstruction?

The staged approach to breast reconstruction involves some reconstructive surgery during the mastectomy or lumpectomy and more reconstructive surgery after any additional radiation or chemotherapy treatments. The first stage involves placing a tissue expander that preserves the shape of the breast until radiation or chemotherapy has been completed and the tissues have recovered (usually 4-6 months). In stage two, the tissue expander is removed and replaced with a permanent breast implant. 

How is the first stage of breast reconstruction performed?

Do you have to have two stages of breast reconstruction?

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

What does it feel like after breast reconstruction surgery?

* 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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