Breast Reduction After Breast Cancer: One Woman's Story

She had made it through breast cancer treatment, which included a lumpectomy and radiation for breast conserving therapy, but the difficult journey was not over. The breast that had been treated for cancer shrank in size over time, and as a result her other breast became much larger and heavier than the other. This impacted her daily life from how her clothes fit to how she slept. Her story is a clear example of how a procedure called oncoplastic breast reduction can restore comfort, balance, and symmetry after cancer, and give a woman back the feeling of being at home in her own body.

Call to Make an Appointment with Dr. Rosaline Reynolds:
608-643-4140

If you live in the Prairie du Sac or the greater Madison area and have been carrying a similar struggle since your own treatment, her experience may sound familiar. What helped her is available close to home at the Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic at Sauk Prairie Healthcare, where plastic surgeon Rosaline Reynolds, MD, MS, cares for women in exactly this situation.

Living With Uneven Breasts After Breast Cancer

For this patient, finishing cancer treatment did not mean things went back to normal. One breast was noticeably larger and heavier, and the weight pulled on her back and neck, leaving her sore and strained. The skin underneath the heavier breast kept breaking down, so she dealt with itching, chafing, and repeated infections. Even getting dressed was a problem, because she could not find a bra that fit both sides at once.

She had not ignored any of it. She had seen her primary care doctor several times and used the prescription creams she was given, but the relief never lasted. What she was living with was a real medical problem, not a matter of appearance, and it was wearing her down day after day.

What Oncoplastic Breast Reduction is, and What it Did for Her

When she came to Dr. Reynolds, she learned there was a way to correct the imbalance. Oncoplastic breast reduction blends two things: the surgery connected to breast cancer, and the techniques used in breast reduction. When cancer surgery changes the size or shape of a breast, reduction techniques let a surgeon reshape and resize it so the two match more closely, using a woman's own natural tissue.

Picture a skilled tailor taking in one side of a jacket so the whole thing hangs evenly again. The idea is similar, except the goal is comfort and a woman's own tissue rather than fabric. Depending on whether the surgery is done prior to radiation therapy or after, the surgery can be done on both breasts, or on the non-radiated breast.

Timing of Oncoplastic Reductions

Often, oncoplastic reductions are done 1-2 weeks after the lumpectomy, prior to radiation therapy for breast conserving therapy. Doing the surgery in this interim period allows the surgeon to safely operate on both breasts.

This particular patient did not have this surgery at the same time as her cancer treatment.

However, this did not mean she missed a window. Dr. Reynolds was still able to perform a reduction on the non-radiated breast and achieve meaningful symmetry. Research on breast cancer surgery has found that having the symmetry procedure later, rather than at the time of the first operation, works well and does not meaningfully raise the risk of complications.

Her Recovery and the Results She Saw

The change came sooner than she might have expected. In the first days and weeks after surgery, some soreness, swelling, and tightness are normal, and a supportive garment along with prescribed medication helps with the early discomfort. Her care team guided her on when it was safe to return to her usual activities, and the final shape kept settling in as the swelling faded.

By about a month after her surgery, her incisions were healing well and the swelling was already improving. She could see a real difference in how balanced her breasts looked, and for the first time since her diagnosis, she could wear bras that actually fit. The daily problems that had worn her down, the chafing, the strain, and the frustration of getting dressed, eased. Every recovery is a little different, but relief like hers is a common reason women are glad they had the surgery.

Is Breast Reduction After Cancer Covered by Insurance?

Many women in her situation are surprised to learn that this kind of surgery is frequently covered by insurance. Because it is connected to breast cancer treatment and often addresses real physical symptoms, it is treated differently from a purely cosmetic breast reduction. A federal law, the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act, requires many health plans that cover a mastectomy to also cover surgery on the other breast to create a balanced, symmetrical appearance.

The team at Sauk Prairie Healthcare can help you understand what your individual plan is likely to cover so there are no surprises.

Care Close to Home with Dr. Reynolds in Prairie du Sac

One of the things that made her experience easier was not having to travel far. Dr. Rosaline Reynolds is a female plastic surgeon who trained at the University of Wisconsin, completing an integrated plastic surgery residency at UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison. Her areas of focus include breast cancer reconstruction, breast reduction, and body contouring, so she understands both the cancer side and the reconstructive side of what her patients are going through. For many women, having a female surgeon for this kind of personal care matters, and that option is here.

Getting started is simple. No referral is needed, and most patients can be seen for a consultation within about two weeks.

Her story is a reminder that you do not have to simply live with discomfort or a body that no longer feels like your own after cancer. Restoring symmetry can relieve real physical problems and help a woman feel like herself again. The choice is a personal one, and the clearest way to understand your own options is to talk with a surgeon who can look at your situation and answer your questions honestly.

Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Reynolds

If her story sounds like what you have been living with since your cancer treatment, reach out to the Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery Clinic at Sauk Prairie Healthcare at 608-643-4140 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Reynolds. No referral is needed, in-person and virtual visits are available, and most patients can be seen within about two weeks. The clinic is at 250 26th Street, Suite 135, in Prairie du Sac, WI. You will have time to ask questions and get answers based on your body and your goals.

Call to Make an Appointment with Dr. Rosaline Reynolds:
608-643-4140

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References:

American Cancer Society. Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/financial-insurance-matters/health-insurance-laws/womens-health-and-cancer-rights-act.html

>U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration. Fact Sheet: Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/EBSA/about-ebsa/our-activities/resource-center/fact-sheets/womens-health-cancer-rights-act-fact-sheet.pdf

American Society of Breast Surgeons. Consensus Definition and Classification System of Oncoplastic Surgery. Annals of Surgical Oncology. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30977016/

American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast reconstruction and the Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/breast-reconstruction-and-correcting-course-on-the-womens-health-and-cancer-rights-act