Key Takeaways
- Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day (BRA Day) is held each October to make sure women facing a mastectomy learn about all of their breast reconstruction options.
- Many women still don't know that options go beyond implants or that insurance usually covers breast reconstruction after mastectomy.
- Federal law requires most health plans that cover a mastectomy to also cover reconstruction, including surgery on the other breast for a balanced look.
- You can start the reconstruction conversation before your mastectomy, or months or even years after it.
- The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction is a leading team of breast reconstruction surgeons in New Orleans, with offices across Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Request a breast reconstruction consultation online to learn which options fit you.
What Is Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day?
Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day, or BRA Day, is a yearly event focused on one goal: making sure no woman goes through a mastectomy without hearing about her reconstruction choices. A mastectomy is surgery to remove all of the breast to treat or prevent breast cancer.
BRA Day began in Canada in 2011. The next year, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and The Plastic Surgery Foundation launched BRA Day USA. In the United States, it falls on the third Wednesday of October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2026, that date is October 21.
Why BRA Day Was Created?
ASPS describes the idea simply: a woman's breast cancer care is not complete until she knows all of her reconstruction options. BRA Day events, education, and fundraising all work toward closing that information gap.
Why Some Women Aren't Told About Reconstruction Options Up Front?
A breast cancer diagnosis moves fast. Appointments, scans, and treatment plans can fill every week. In that rush, reconstruction can feel like an afterthought, or it may not come up at all.
Research shows the knowledge gap is real. A 2022 ASPS survey on what women know about life after mastectomy, conducted by The Harris Poll among 2,047 U.S. adults, found:
- 54% of women were unsure whether there are surgical options beyond breast implants.
- 73% of women were unsure whether they would have to pay for the surgery themselves.
- 62% of women did not know it may be possible to regain some feeling in the breast over time.
When women don't know these facts, they may never ask. That's why awareness matters so much.
Your Right to Make an Informed Choice
Reconstruction is a personal decision. Some women choose it, and some don't. The most important thing is that the choice is yours and that you make it with full information.
What the Law Says About Insurance Coverage?
The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 (WHCRA) is a federal law. According to the National Cancer Institute's guide to breast reconstruction after mastectomy, WHCRA requires group health plans and insurers that cover mastectomy to also pay for reconstruction. This coverage includes:
- All stages of reconstruction
- Surgery on the other breast to create a balanced look (symmetry)
- Breast prostheses (breast forms)
- Treatment of complications from mastectomy, including lymphedema (swelling caused by fluid buildup)
Some plans may be exempt, and WHCRA does not apply to Medicare or Medicaid. The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction'sbreast reconstruction insurance page explains federal and state coverage rules, and the team can help you understand your plan.
Options Go Beyond Implants
Breast reconstruction can use implants, your own tissue (called autologous tissue), or a mix of both. Autologous reconstruction uses tissue from areas such as the abdomen, buttocks, or thighs to rebuild a soft, natural breast. Microsurgery, which means surgery done under a microscope to reconnect tiny blood vessels, makes many of these procedures possible.
| Reconstruction Type | What It Uses | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| Implant-based | Saline or silicone implants | Often a shorter surgery and recovery |
| Autologous (flap) | Your own skin, fat, and blood vessels | Can feel softer and more natural |
| Hybrid | Your own tissue plus an implant | Combines benefits of both approaches |
The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction offers all three, including DIEP flap breast reconstruction, which uses lower belly tissue while sparing the abdominal muscle.
How and When to Start the Reconstruction Conversation?
There is no wrong time to ask about breast reconstruction after mastectomy. You have two main timing choices:
- Immediate reconstruction: Reconstruction starts during the same surgery as your mastectomy.
- Delayed reconstruction: Reconstruction happens after you heal and finish treatment. This can be months or even years later.
Questions to Ask Your Care Team
Bring these questions to your next visit with your breast surgeon or oncologist:
- Am I a candidate for reconstruction, and when could it happen?
- Will I need radiation, and how could that affect my reconstruction timing?
- Can you refer me to a breast reconstruction surgeon before my mastectomy?
- Which options use my own tissue, and which use implants?
If you want a head start, the Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction also offers an online 'Am I a Candidate?' form on its website.
Local Resources for New Orleans Patients
You don't have to sort through this alone. Women in New Orleans and the Gulf South can lean on:
- The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction's New Orleans office: Located at 4429 Clara Street, Suite 330. Visit the New Orleans breast reconstruction office page for details.
- Regional offices: The practice also sees patients in Lafayette, LA; Gulfport, MS; Miramar Beach, FL; Macon, GA; and Mount Pleasant (Charleston), SC.
- Out-of-town support: If you're traveling for surgery, the practice's travel accommodations guide can help you plan your stay.
- Peer support: The American Cancer Society's Reach To Recovery program connects people facing breast cancer with trained volunteers who are survivors.
Make BRA Day the Day You Learn Your Breast Reconstruction Options
BRA Day exists because too many women still don't know their choices after a mastectomy. The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction helps women in New Orleans and across the Gulf South understand every option, from DIEP flap to implant-based reconstruction.
Ready to talk about your future? Request a breast reconstruction consultation online with the Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction and learn which reconstruction options are right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day?
Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day is a yearly event in October that teaches women about their breast reconstruction options after mastectomy. In the U.S., it falls on the third Wednesday of October.
What are my breast reconstruction options after mastectomy?
The main options are implant-based reconstruction, flap reconstruction using your own tissue, and hybrid reconstruction, which combines both. A reconstruction surgeon can help you choose based on your body, health, and goals.
Does insurance cover breast reconstruction after mastectomy?
In most cases, yes. The Women's Health and Cancer Rights Act requires most health plans that cover mastectomy to also cover reconstruction. Some plans are exempt, so it's smart to check your coverage.
Is it too late to have breast reconstruction years after my mastectomy?
No. Delayed reconstruction can happen months or even years after a mastectomy. Many women choose this path after they finish cancer treatment.
How do I find a breast reconstruction surgeon in New Orleans?
Look for a surgeon who specializes in breast reconstruction and microsurgery. The Center for Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction has an office in New Orlea ns and several locations across the Gulf South.
