Implant-based

Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction

Rebuilding the breast with a silicone implant, often in the same surgery as the mastectomy.

How does Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction work?

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.

The path

1Consult & plan
2Mastectomy + immediate implant
3Recovery
4Refine, if needed
5Finishing touches

Consult & plan

Dr. Li and her all-women team coordinate with your breast surgeon to plan reconstruction around your overall treatment.

Mastectomy + immediate implant

Often "one-and-done": the implant is placed in the same surgery as the mastectomy, so many patients never have to "go flat." Dr. Li frequently places a prepectoral (above-the-muscle) silicone implant.

Recovery

You heal from the combined surgery with the team's support at each stage.

Refine, if needed

Some results are fine-tuned later — for example an implant exchange to adjust size, or a small revision.

Finishing touches

The final step: nipple reconstruction, often with a small local flap, and the areola recreated with 3D tattooing.

Recovery timeline

Surgery day
Early recovery
Back to daily life
Final result

A real result from Dr. Li

A 29-year-old woman with Stage 1 right breast cancer wanted to go from a B to a full C cup. She had a nipple-sparing double mastectomy with immediate prepectoral implant reconstruction; the implants were later exchanged for a larger size to reach her goal.

A 37-year-old woman with a BRCA2 mutation chose a risk-reducing nipple-sparing double mastectomy with immediate prepectoral implant reconstruction. She later had a capsulotomy with an implant exchange to refine the result.

A 42-year-old woman with left breast cancer had a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy. About seven months later, Dr. Li performed delayed implant-based reconstruction with prepectoral silicone implants.

See more direct-to-implant reconstructionresults ›

Every plan is personal — Dr. Li will walk you through yours.

Request a consultation

Frequently asked questions

Is direct-to-implant done in one surgery?

Frequently — the implant can be placed at the same time as the mastectomy. Some patients later have a small refinement such as an implant exchange.

What does "prepectoral" mean?

It describes placing the implant above the chest muscle rather than beneath it. Dr. Li discusses which approach fits your case at consultation.

What is the finishing step?

Nipple reconstruction and 3D areola tattooing, once the reconstructed breast has healed.

Want the full picture?

Read the full Breast Reconstruction guide ›

Meet your surgeon

Dr. Wai-Yee Li,
MD PhD FACS

A female board-certified plastic surgeon in Arcadia, Los Angeles, specializing in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery — with a focus on the best surgical outcomes, less pain and minimal scarring.

Meet Dr. Wai-Yee Li ›