Understand your options

The approaches — implant vs your own tissue

Implant-based reconstruction. The most common method in the U.S. — the breast tissue removed at mastectomy is replaced with an implant. Dr. Li generally uses silicone implants for a more natural look and feel after mastectomy, and walks through the options with you.

Autologous — using your own tissue. Rebuilding the breast with your own tissue, such as a DIEP flap from the abdomen or a latissimus (LAT) flap from the back, sometimes combined with an implant. Dr. Li specializes in the LAT flap and developed the Combined Bra-Line Back Lift–LAT flap, which reconstructs the breast and contours the back in one operation.

Timing — immediate vs delayed

Immediate (“one-and-done”). Reconstruction performed on the same day as the mastectomy, so many patients never have to “go flat.” Dr. Li and her team coordinate with your breast surgeon to plan it.

Delayed & delayed-immediate. Reconstruction can also follow the mastectomy by a couple of weeks (often convenient for out-of-town patients who have their mastectomy closer to home), or months to years later. The right timing depends on your overall treatment.

What the journey looks like

From consultation to final results. Most reconstructions move from consultation and planning, through surgery and recovery, to the finishing steps. Dr. Li’s all-women team supports patients through each stage of what she calls “the journey.”

The finishing steps (nipple & areola)

Nipple & areola reconstruction. The finishing step of reconstruction — recreating the nipple, often with a small local flap, and the areola with 3D nipple-areolar tattooing.

What breast reduction does

Relief and proportion. Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue to relieve neck, back and shoulder strain and improve proportion and comfort, performed by an expert breast surgeon in Arcadia, Los Angeles.

What to expect

Consultation and care. At your consultation Dr. Li discusses your goals and options. Her practice also works with PPO insurances for patients able to use out-of-network benefits, and some patients choose to pay directly.

What aesthetic flat closure is

A smooth flat contour. For patients who choose not to reconstruct after mastectomy, aesthetic flat closure creates a smooth, comfortable flat chest contour — with attention to avoiding the excess skin (“dog ears”) that can be left after a standard closure.

When it can be done

Immediate or delayed. Flat closure can be done at the time of mastectomy, shortly after, or as a later revision for patients who were not left with the flat result they wanted.

What the Goldilocks procedure is

A smaller mound in one stage. The Goldilocks mastectomy uses the patient’s own existing breast skin to create a smaller reconstructed mound in a single stage, for selected patients. Dr. Li has trained other surgeons on this procedure.

How it’s done

Reconstructing the nipple-areola complex. Reconstructing the nipple — often by rearranging local skin into a small flap — and recreating the areola with 3D nipple-areolar tattooing, as the finishing step of breast reconstruction.