Partial mastectomy reconstruction

I just read about a recent development in Oregon, where the legislature at the end of May, voted to have insurance companies cover reconstruction of partial mastectomy patients, or patients having lumpectomies. Previously, only full or total mastectomies were covered in the state. This is a significant occurrence, as patients elsewhere may also may be able to have breast reconstruction, even in the cases of partial mastectomy.

Unilateral versus bilateral reconstruction timing

We saw a patient this past week who had had bilateral breast reconstruction using abdominal tissue.... only at two different settings with mastectomies at different times... on one side a tissue expander was placed and the skin expanded over time following a mastectomy. At a later time, the other mastectomy was performed with immediate reconstruction using abdominal tissue along with removal of the original tissue expander followed by breast reconstruction using abdominal tissue...

Not to add too many varibles, but it is important that with bilateral reconstruction with abdominal tissue (one side immediate, the other side delayed), that the "outside" skin incisions, etc will look different...