[Breast reconstruction after mastectomy for cancer]

In spite of advances in breast cancerology, partial or total mastectomy still has wide indications and remains a mutilative procedure. Since its introduction over thirty years ago, breast reconstruction has become an accepted, codified and efficient procedure. The techniques which can be used can be broadly divided into two categories: reconstructions with implants, which have been greatly improved by skin expansion techniques, and reconstructions using myocutaneous flaps. Whatever method is used, the breast is modeled during the reconstruction procedure and surgery is frequently necessary to obtain a symmetric opposite breast; a good knowledge of plastic surgery is thus a requisite.