Breast Reconstruction: Restoring What Cancer Took

William Halstead Performs First Radical Mastectomy

Aug 1, 1889

Halstead did not medically agree with the concept of providing breast reconstruction because he feared it compromised controlling the disease. His teachings limited further exploration of breast reconstruction for the nearly 100 years.

Vincent Czerny credited with first attempt at autogenous breast reconstruction

Jan 1, 1895

"Reconstructed using transplant of lipoma from patient's flank" (Uroskie & Colen, 2004)

Italian surgeon Tanzini uses first muscular tissue to reconstruct

Jan 1, 1906

Due to Halstead's teachings, Tanzini's approach goes unrecognized for nearly 60 years.

Cronin & Gerow perform first silicon breast implant on Timmie Jean Lindsey

Apr 1, 1962

First transversely oriented abdominal musculocutaneous island (TRAM) flap for breast reconstruction

Jan 1, 1982

Medical tattooing of the reconstructed nipple areola becomes popular

Jan 1, 1986

Women's Health & Cancer Rights Act of 1998 - Requires insurance providers to cover breast reconstruction treatment in the event of mastectomy

Oct 21, 1998

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/publications/whcra.html#.UMZeLqyDnTo

First Annual Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day

Oct 17, 2012

Established by the American Society for Plastic Surgeons