New Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery Article Discusses Risk-Reducing Breast Surgery for Women with Family History of Breast Cancer

Do you have a family history of breast cancer? Should you get tested for the breast cancer genes? What if you test positive? What do the results really mean? What are your treatment options?

Altered copies of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes increase risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer, and growing numbers of women who test positive for these genes are choosing a prophylactic mastectomy to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.

Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery's new, comprehensive article on breast reconstruction following a prophylactic mastectomy – preventive surgery to remove one or both breasts – helps women make these important decisions head-on. The new article is published in time for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The article lays out all the options for breast reconstruction following prophylactic removal of the breasts, including breast reconstruction. It also answers important questions such as:

- Should you get tested for the breast cancer genes?
- Which type of implant should be used: saline, silicone or cohesive gel?
- Will breast reconstruction occur immediately after the mastectomy?
- Can you still get breast cancer after a prophylactic mastectomy?
- Is nipple reconstruction possible?
- Will insurance pay for genetic testing and/or reconstruction?

The feature can be found at: www.yourplasticsurgeryguide.com/reconstructive/reconstructive-options.htm

"This information is a wonderful starting place for women considering being tested for BRCA 1 and 2, and for those faced with difficult choices to reduce their risk of breast cancer," says Marisa Weiss, MD, a breast oncologist and founder of the non-profit, Breastcancer.org. Dr. Weiss reviewed the article for Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery.

"What I've learned in my decades of practice and from my involvement with the Breastcancer.org community is that being armed with information at all points in the decision-making cycle is essential to both emotional and physical health," she says.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2009. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among U.S. women.

About Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery

Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery is a one-stop, independent resource with more than 150 pages of information on cosmetic plastic surgery and skincare procedures. In addition to breast reconstruction, popular topics include:

- Breast augmentation
- Facelift
- Liposuction
- Rhinoplasty
- Tummy tuck

Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery articles are reviewed by an editorial advisory board comprising some of the nation's leading surgeons, assuring consumers of the highest-quality, most trustworthy information on the Web. To complement this robust content, a before-and-after photo gallery is available.

Consumer Guide to Plastic Surgery is published by Ceatus Media Group LLC, an online provider of health information and physician directories.