Relatively few women pursue breast reconstruction after mastectomy, and a new study may help explain why. Less than half of breast cancer surgeons routinely refer patients to a plastic surgeon to discuss treatment options prior to mastectomy, found the University of Michigan study.

Researchers surveyed 365 breast cancer surgeons to determine how often patients were receiving referrals to plastic surgeons before undergoing mastectomy. According to the findings, 44 percent of the surgeons referred less than 25 percent of their patients to a plastic surgeon.

However, the surgeons surveyed attributed the low rate of women opting for breast reconstruction to other factors:

• 57 percent said that reconstruction surgery wasn't important to breast cancer patients
• 64 percent didn't think patients were interested
• 39 percent thought patients were concerned about the lengthy reconstructive process

Additionally, almost half of the surgeons believed that patients were concerned about the costs associated with reconstruction, even though a 1998 law mandated insurance companies to cover breast reconstructive surgery.

“We, as a profession, need to do a better job at offering multidisciplinary care or improved decision aids so that patients can be fully educated about all of their treatment options,” said lead researcher Dr. Amy Alderman.

“Knowing about reconstructive options appears to influence women's choice for surgical therapy. We have made some significant advances in reconstructive surgery where immediate reconstruction produces better aesthetic results,” she added.

Considering reconstructive surgery? To learn more about your options from a board certified plastic surgeon near you, please contact us today.