**3. Considerations in breast reconstruction**

There are three different factors that must be considered while choosing a BR option. These are patient related factors, Oncologic factors, and surgeon related

factors. The plan must be individualized to each patient based on these factors. Furthermore, the decision process of reconstructive procedure must entail a collaborative approach between the plastic surgeon and the affected patient [17]. More specifically, the reconstructive plastic surgeon presents the available options based on the above mentioned factors, while the patient states her desires to finally arrive at the optimal breast reconstructive plan.

Patient related factors are: the age of the patient, the patient's desires, overall health and comorbidities, previous breast or other body surgeries, smoking history, and patient anatomy. Oncologic factors involve BC history, history of radiation therapy, history of breast biopsies, tumor biological features, and the potential need for adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological and hormonal therapy. Surgeon related factors include the availability of a plastic surgeon to perform a particular reconstruction, and optimal facility with appropriate capabilities and ancillary staff where the surgery will be performed.
