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Too old for reconstruction?

Page last modified on: September 18, 2008
Question from BlueEyes: I'm 68 and had a mastectomy 8 years ago. Am I too old to have reconstruction?
Answers —Maurice Nahabedian, M.D.: Absolutely not. The oldest woman I've done a reconstruction on was 77 and I did that using her own tissues, in a micro-vascular reconstruction. I can tell you that the longest time interval from mastectomy to reconstruction was 25 years, so my answer would be you're never too old, and it's never too late.
Marisa Weiss, M.D., president and founder: As women, we lead very interesting and complicated lives. Our needs and our wants change over time. I have a number of patients I've taken care of who chose no reconstruction up front because they were dealing with too many cancer treatment-related decisions or they simply weren't interested. But then, years later, their lives changed or they thought about their options in a different way, and decided to seek out reconstruction.

On Wednesday, November 19, 2003, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Breast Reconstruction. Maurice Nahabedian, M.D. and Marisa Weiss, M.D. answered your questions about different techniques in breast reconstruction, the pros and cons of implants and body tissue transfers, when you might want to reconstruct, and many more issues related to rebuilding your breast/s after breast cancer surgery.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Maurice Nahabedian, M.D. is director of the Center of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast and associate professor of plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins.

Marisa Weiss, M.D. is a radiation oncologist specializing in breast cancer and the founder, president, and guiding force behind Breastcancer.org.

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