Restoring form after cancer or trauma
Breast reconstruction recreates the shape of the breast after a mastectomy or a lumpectomy for cancer, or after injury. It is not aesthetic surgery under another name: it is the part of oncologic surgery that deals with what is left after the disease has been treated, and it forms part of the patient’s physical and emotional recovery.
Reconstructive surgery is half the specialty —the full title is Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery— and it is the half that rarely appears in advertising, because it does not sell. Dr. Arístides Arellano holds a specialty licence in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (0002008) and has worked in this branch since his training: he took part in the International Symposium on Reconstructive Breast Surgery in 1988 —a document that forms part of his credential archive— and in the Symposium on Cutaneous Tissue Loss the same year.
Reconstruction options
There is no better technique in the abstract: there is an appropriate technique for each patient, according to her anatomy, the oncologic treatment received —very particularly whether there was radiotherapy, which changes tissue quality and conditions the decision— and her own preferences.
- Implant-based reconstruction: usually in two stages — first a tissue expander that gradually gains skin, then the definitive implant. It is the shortest recovery route and adds no scars elsewhere on the body.
- Reconstruction with the patient’s own tissue (flaps): skin, fat and sometimes muscle are transferred from another area —abdomen or back— to rebuild the breast with the patient’s own living tissue. It usually gives the most natural result to the touch and best tolerates previously irradiated tissue. See grafts and flaps.
- Fat grafting: adds volume and improves tissue quality and contour, alone or as a refinement of the other two techniques. Dr. Arístides Arellano published on fat grafting in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Springer-Verlag, 1990).
- Symmetrising the opposite breast: the other breast is frequently adjusted too —with a lift, a reduction or an augmentation— to achieve a balanced result. Reconstruction does not end at the operated breast.
- Nipple-areola complex reconstruction: the final stage, with a graft, a local flap or micropigmentation. It is a small detail in operating time and a large one in how the patient perceives the finished result.
Timing: immediate or delayed
Reconstruction can be immediate —in the same operation as the mastectomy, so the patient does not wake without a breast— or delayed, months or years later, once oncologic treatment has concluded. Neither is superior in the abstract: the decision depends on the tumour type, the radiotherapy and chemotherapy plan, the state of the skin, and what the patient is in a position to face at that moment.
That decision is not made alone and it is not made in a hurry. It is coordinated with the oncology team, and a patient who does not want reconstruction today can be reconstructed later: the door does not close.
How is it performed?
It is performed under general anaesthesia in a hospital operating room. Duration and recovery vary considerably by technique: expander-and-implant reconstruction is shorter with a faster recovery; flap reconstruction is major surgery, longer, involving an additional donor site and a more prolonged recovery, in exchange for a result made of the patient’s own tissue. The whole process is planned alongside oncologic treatment.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Close, unhurried support
It is a personal decision that should not be rushed or made under pressure. The consultation explains the options, timing, risks and realistic expectations —including what reconstruction does not do— so the most suitable path is decided together. Results may vary according to each patient, her anatomy and the oncologic treatment received.
Recommended post-surgical treatments
Depending on the technique, and always in coordination with the oncology team, Dr. Arístides may recommend manual lymphatic drainage and hyperbaric chamber sessions to support healing, especially in previously irradiated tissue. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
The reference price starts at approximately $100,000 MXN, depending on the complexity of the case and the indicated technique. The price is all-inclusive: it covers use of the operating theatre and facilities, pre-operative laboratory work and the post-surgical recovery treatments. It is not the surgeon’s fee alone. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
If your reconstruction involves an implant: How long do breast implants last? The 10-year myth — part of the informational guide series reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Recovery · step by step
- First weeksRest and care per technique; recovery differs for implant vs. own-tissue reconstruction.
- Weeks 2–6Progressive return, avoiding strain; close wound follow-up.
- Following monthsSymmetry adjustments and, when applicable, areola reconstruction are assessed.
- CoordinationThe whole process is coordinated with the medical team’s oncologic treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Is breast reconstruction immediate or delayed?
It can be either. Immediate reconstruction is performed in the same operation as the mastectomy, so the patient does not wake without a breast. Delayed reconstruction is performed months or years later, once oncologic treatment has concluded. Neither is superior in the abstract: the decision depends on the tumour type, the radiotherapy and chemotherapy plan, the state of the skin, and what the patient is in a position to face. It is decided together with the oncology team.
Which is better, implant or own tissue?
There is no single answer. Expander-and-implant reconstruction has a shorter recovery and adds no scars elsewhere on the body. Reconstruction with the patient’s own tissue (a flap) usually gives a more natural result to the touch and better tolerates previously irradiated tissue, but it is major surgery with an additional donor site. If there was radiotherapy, that fact weighs heavily on the decision. The pros and cons of each route are explained at the consultation.
How much does breast reconstruction cost in Puebla?
Breast reconstruction has no catalogue price, and publishing one would be misleading: it depends entirely on the technique, on how many surgical stages the case requires, on whether the opposite breast is symmetrised, and on hospital and anaesthetist fees. It is defined at the consultation, with clear written information. If your oncologic treatment is managed in a public institution or under an insurance policy, it is worth reviewing at the consultation which part of the process is covered.
Can symmetry with the other breast be achieved?
Yes, and it is frequently part of the plan. The opposite breast is also adjusted —with a lift, a reduction or an augmentation— to achieve a balanced result. Reconstruction does not end at the operated breast.
Can the nipple and areola be reconstructed?
Yes. It is the final stage of reconstruction and is done with a graft, a local flap or micropigmentation. It is a small detail in operating time and a large one in how the patient perceives the finished result.
Does radiotherapy rule out reconstruction?
It does not rule it out, but it conditions it: radiotherapy changes the quality of the skin and tissue, and that directly influences the technique chosen. In irradiated tissue, reconstruction with the patient’s own tissue is usually tolerated better than an implant-only approach. It is one of the most important pieces of information the oncology team brings to the planning.
Can I have reconstruction if my mastectomy was years ago?
Yes. Delayed reconstruction is a valid option years later, and a patient who chose not to be reconstructed at the time can do so later: the door does not close. What does change over time is the state of the skin and tissue, which can influence the most appropriate technique.
What is Dr. Arístides Arellano’s experience in reconstructive surgery?
He practises under a specialty licence in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (0002008) issued by the DGP. He took part in the International Symposium on Reconstructive Breast Surgery in 1988 and in the Symposium on Cutaneous Tissue Loss the same year, and published on fat grafting in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (Springer-Verlag, 1990). The documents are in the credentials section of this site.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.