Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
A common breast reconstruction technique is tissue expansion, which involves expansion of the breast skin and muscle using a temporary breast tissue expander. A few months later, the expander is removed and the patient receives either microvascular flap reconstruction or the insertion of a permanent breast implant. This type of breast reconstruction requires two separate operations.
The process will usually begin three to four weeks after your mastectomy, once your drains are removed, and will continue until the size is slightly larger than your other breast. After the skin over the breast area has stretched enough, the expander will be removed in a second operation and either flap reconstruction or a permanent implant will be inserted. The nipple and the dark skin surrounding it, called the areola, are reconstructed in a subsequent procedure.
The process will usually begin three to four weeks after your mastectomy, once your drains are removed, and will continue until the size is slightly larger than your other breast. After the skin over the breast area has stretched enough, the expander will be removed in a second operation and either flap reconstruction or a permanent implant will be inserted. The nipple and the dark skin surrounding it, called the areola, are reconstructed in a subsequent procedure.
