Reconstructive surgery aims to return one or more parts of the body to either normal function or to restore a desired appearance. Patients may receive it to address a congenital deformity, like cleft lip or palate, an injury after an accident, or as a direct result of a disease or medical treatment. The older a patient is, the more involvement they will tend to have during the planning process.

When planning major breast cancer treatment, surgeons will ask patients what they want their body to look like after tumor removal, and they will plan a procedure which achieves that appearance. Patients can even see examples of each possibility via virtual and 3D-printed models. To match the specified outcome, surgeons can either use implants that fit the patient’s current or desired body shape, or microsurgery, extracting tissue from the belly or back, to fill each target area. Regardless of the surgery type, patients will consult their surgery team repeatedly over time to ensure that the implant or microsurgery transfers continue functioning properly or maintaining the intended aesthetics.