In 1981, the first breast reconstruction surgery was performed in China; however, it was not until 2000 that the surgery was gradually spread throughout the country. Worldwide, the percentage of patients who underwent breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery is 36.9% in the United States, 17% in our immediate neighbor Japan, and 5.6% in Taiwan Province, but in mainland China, the figure is less than 1%. Well, in recent years, as education has become more popular and economic levels have risen, more and more women are realizing the importance of reshaping their breasts for themselves, and the number of patients undergoing breast reconstruction surgery is gradually increasing. What are the ways of breast reconstruction? The most common are the following 2 types of surgery: (1) Breast reconstruction with implants: i.e. silicone saline breast implants and expanders, etc. It is suitable for young patients who are not willing to sacrifice autologous tissues from other parts of the body. The method is to place a silicone, silicone gel or saline filled implant under the skin flap or under the pectoralis major muscle after mastectomy. (2) Breast reconstruction with own tissues: Breast reconstruction with own tissues is a method of breast reconstruction by transplanting tissues from the abdomen, buttocks, back, femur, etc. Depending on the source of the tissues, it can be divided into transfer with tip and free transplant. When is the best time to have breast reconstruction? There are three types of breast reconstruction: immediate breast reconstruction, stage II breast reconstruction and staged immediate breast reconstruction. Immediate Breast Reconstruction The reconstruction of the breast is done at the same time as the mastectomy and is usually a joint operation between plastic surgery and breast surgery. After the breast surgeon has relieved the patient of the pain, the plastic surgeon can repair or reconstruct the “missing” breast, which can effectively reduce the patient’s anxiety and low self-esteem, and has a better psychological effect and economic benefit. Stage II breast reconstruction refers to breast reconstruction after the completion of adjuvant treatment such as breast cancer removal and radiotherapy, and then after a certain recovery period. Staged Immediate Breast Reconstruction Breast reconstruction is completed in two stages: immediate and postponed. In cases where the need for postoperative radiotherapy cannot be determined intraoperatively, a tissue expander can be implanted first and the subsequent reconstruction plan can be decided in phase II. This approach solves the problem of uncertain timing of surgery with radiation therapy while maximizing the condition of the breast tissue needed for reconstruction. Is breast reconstruction actually safe? Many patients have a common question: Is breast reconstruction safe? Studies have shown that local recurrence or metastasis of tumor is related to the stage of the disease and whether or not to adjuvant radiotherapy after surgery, but not to breast reconstruction, the timing of reconstruction and the method of reconstruction. The safety of immediate breast reconstruction in oncology has also been confirmed, and the rate of local recurrence in patients with immediate breast reconstruction is no different from that of patients with radical breast cancer alone. In the United States, 70-90% of patients choose to undergo breast reconstruction at the same time as surgery. Breast reconstruction can relieve the psychological stress and emotional disorders caused by the breast, restore the patient’s self-confidence and sense of social participation, and greatly improve the patient’s quality of life. How are the nipples and areolas reconstructed? Nipple reconstruction is usually performed using localized self-tissue. The surgery can be performed at the same time as the breast reconstruction or 3-6 months after the breast reconstruction surgery. The areola is usually darkened by tattooing and the treatment is usually done 3-6 months after the surgery.