What is Direct-to-Implant Reconstruction?

Direct-to-implant reconstruction, also known as “one-step” reconstruction, is a Breast Reconstruction surgery that involves placing a breast implant immediately after mastectomy. The mastectomy is performed to spare the breast skin and when possible, the nipple structure. The implant is carefully positioned during the same surgery as the mastectomy, allowing patients to wake up with a reconstructed breast, minimizing the number of surgeries required.

What is the Procedure?

During your direct-to-implant breast reconstruction in Denver, Dr. Cohen collaborates closely with the surgical oncologist to ensure seamless coordination during the mastectomy. After the breast tissue is removed, the permanent implant is placed either beneath the chest muscle or, in some cases, above it, depending on the patient’s anatomy and preferences. Dr. Cohen uses advanced surgical techniques to ensure the implant is securely positioned, resulting in a natural-looking and symmetrical breast.

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What Are the Benefits?

Women who choose direct-to-implant reconstruction experience several key advantages, including:

  • No Need for Tissue Expanders: The process skips the lengthy tissue expansion stage, streamlining your journey.
  • Immediate Breast Restoration: Patients wake up from surgery with their breast shape already restored, offering a significant psychological boost.
  • Single Surgical Procedure: Only one surgery is required, reducing the overall time and stress associated with reconstruction.
  • Natural and Symmetrical Results: When performed by our skilled surgeons, the outcomes are designed to be natural-looking and well-balanced.
  • Minimal Incisions and Scarring: The procedure leaves fewer scars in most cases.
  • Confidence in Your Appearance: Feel comfortable and confident wearing swimsuits and low-cut clothing, knowing your results are aesthetically pleasing.

Who is a Candidate?

Direct-to-implant reconstruction is suitable for patients who are candidates for immediate reconstruction and do not require additional treatments, such as radiation, that could affect the healing process. This procedure may be ideal for women with sufficient skin and tissue to accommodate the implant. 

What is the Recovery?

Recovery from direct-to-implant reconstruction is generally quicker than staged reconstruction methods, as it involves only one major surgery. Most patients can expect to return to normal activities within a few weeks, though strenuous activities should be avoided for 6-8 weeks. Dr. Cohen will provide personalized post-operative care instructions to support a smooth and successful recovery.

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Why Choose Us?

Choosing Dr. Cohen for your direct-to-implant reconstruction in Denver means you will be under the care of a breast reconstruction surgeon who has performed over two thousand procedures. He offers exceptional technical skill, experience, and dedication. Dr. Cohen is one of the few plastic surgeons in the region who offer comprehensive breast reconstruction care with familiarity in all possible surgical options. This is why he was previously selected to educate and mentor future plastic surgeons at all levels. His Ivy League education and advanced training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery make him a leader in the field. 

Lear More About Dr. Justin Cohen

Concierge, Personalized Care for the Journey to Breast Reconstruction

Dr. Cohen’s boutique concierge practice is designed to offer personalized, compassionate care. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail and commitment to doing what is right for each patient. Dr. Cohen’s deep understanding of the challenges faced by breast cancer patients ensures that he provides not only technically superior results but also the emotional support needed throughout the reconstruction journey. When you choose Dr. Cohen, you are choosing a surgeon who prioritizes your well-being, delivering natural-looking restored breasts that you will have when you awaken from the mastectomy surgery. Call our Denver office to schedule your consultation today.

Reviews From Dr. Cohen's Patients

“He did an amazing job, and I couldn’t ask for more.

Dr Cohen is a very knowledgeable and skilled plastic surgeon. He has a fantastic bedside manner and is kind and thorough in explaining the procedure for my reconstruction. I&rsq...

“The absolute best ever.

Dr. Cohen and his entire staff are the epitome of professionalism. They are all very patient and caring. When Dr comment explains things to you, ...

“I'm grateful to be a patient

It was a wonderful experience to meet with Dr. Cohen. He was thorough, complete, businesslike, provided relevant information, shared photos of before and after situations of oth...

“Very open and understanding and caring.

Very open and understanding and caring.

“Dr Cohen is an absolutely wonderful surgeon

I found having a resident present very confusing. My only other feedback is I wish I had gone slightly bigger with more projection. Other than that all in all, Dr Cohen is an ab...

“Provider was very helpful!

Provider was very helpful!

“He seemed very caring

Dr. Cohen listened carefully to what I wanted and explained things very thoroughly. He seemed very caring.

“Thorough and professional physician.

Thorough and professional physician.

“Incredible staff, facilities and knowledge

Incredible staff, facilities and knowledge given and shared.

“Genuine care provider

Genuine care provider

“I would highly recommend him to anyone

Dr. Cohen is an extremely competent, caring, and excellence physician, and I felt 100% like I was in the best hands. He's extremely responsive, listens to what I have to say, an...

“Everything was good.

Everything was good.

“When I left I felt very confident

It was so great getting Dr Cohen's definitive opinion about my situation. When I left I felt very confident in what I need to do next, or rather, what I don't need to do. Thank ...

“I was impressed with his honesty and knowledge

I was impressed with his honesty and knowledge, as well as his kind demeanor.

“Wonderful and caring!

Wonderful and caring!

“Very professional

Very professional, so it's a consideration towards the patient and will refer him to others.

“Great provider

Great provider, Justin Cohen. He listened to us, helped us, and he's doing, going to do the best work possible. We appreciate him. Thank you.

“I can't imagine seeing another plastic surgeon

Dr. Cohen is an exceptional practitioner. He presents options that clearly take my wishes into account. I trust him implicitly and can't imagine seeing another plastic surgeon.<...

“I feel very fortunate to be their patient

If I could score Dr. Cohen higher than a 10, I would. His expertise is top notch. He is kind, generous with his time and a true artist when it comes to breast reconstruction. He...

“Dr. Cohen is a very talented surgeon

Dr. Cohen is a very talented surgeon and he listens to your requests and needs and responds appropriately.

“He is a good listener and very attentive

Dr. Cohen is professional, very knowledgeable, compassionate, and passionate about what he does to help women. He is a good listener and very attentive to his clients' needs.

“Dr Cohen has been there since day one of my cancer

Dr Cohen has been there since day one of my cancer. I make a point to recommend him to people that don't even live near the facility. I let them know it's worth flying to Colora...

“Dr. Cohen is an exceptional practitioner

Dr. Cohen is an exceptional practitioner. He presents options that clearly take my wishes into account. I trust him implicitly and can't imagine seeing another plastic surgeon.<...

“He was personable and presented information clearly

He was personable and presented information clearly. He also listened and answered questions.

“Very blessed to have him on my care team

I so appreciate Dr. Cohen's expertise and fastidiousness in my treatment. I also appreciate his calm, professional, and caring demeanor. Very blessed to have him on my care team...

“Dr. Cohen is very professional

Dr. Cohen is very professional and he did a great job with my breast reduction surgery... would highly recommend him to anyone.. very knowledgeable and kind.

“I am very grateful

Although it took a long time to get on the surgical schedule, I am very grateful for having it completed by a caring, excellent surgeon.. I continue my recovery and will return ...

“I so appreciate Dr. Cohen's expertise

I so appreciate Dr. Cohen's expertise and fastidiousness in my treatment. I also appreciate his calm, professional, and caring demeanor. Very blessed to have him on my care team...

“Dr is always interested in my wellbeing

Dr is always interested in my wellbeing

“He made me feel very comfortable

Dr. Cohen was very sensitive, professional and helpful while explaining the results of the MRI that was done. He made me feel very comfortable making a decision about how to pro...

“I feel blessed to have Dr. Cohen and his amazing team

Dr. Cohen is extremely talented and generous in using his skills to better patient's lives. I feel amazingly lucky to be his patient. Today he was very good at addressing my con...

“Dr. Cohen is so easy to talk to

Dr. Cohen is so easy to talk to. Very knowledgeable and passionate about his work.

“He takes the time to listen and is very caring

Since being transferred to the Denver area recently and a breast cancer survivor, finding a new team of doctors was a little scary. However, Dr Cohen has put me at ease and I tr...

“I was so thankful to be referred to him

Dr Cohen listened to me and delivered the results I was looking for. Previously I had 3 different surgeries that did not meet my requests. I was so thankful to be referred to hi...

“Very professional and approachable.

Very professional and approachable.

“He took a lot of time with me

He listened and was very pleasant. He took a lot of time with me

“I appreciate that he spent so much time with me

Dr. Cohen took the time to answer every single one of my questions thoroughly and carefully. Making sure that I understood everything and all of my options. I appreciate that he...

“Dr. Cohen was friendly, knowledgable and approachable

Dr. Cohen was friendly, knowledgable and approachable. He answered all of my questions and tailored his topics to my needs. I look forward to working with him and his team.

“Dr Cohen has changed my life

Dr Cohen has changed my life. I'm amazed at his skill and how quickly I have come full circle.

“I recommend Dr. Cohen and his staff to anyone

Dr. Cohen and his staff has continually during every visit, they have made me feel safe and cared for and very You know, just it's they've created such a warm, welcome and safe ...

“He was professional and compassionate

He was professional and compassionate and very thorough. I will consider him my go to Doctor if I have any complications arise

“The provider was very professional

The provider was very professional and explained everything in detail. The staff was very pleasant and courtesies and I didn't have to wait very long to be seen.

“He always listens to my concerns

He always listens to my concerns and I feel we have a nice Dr/patient relationship.

“We never felt rushed

A wealth of much needed information. Presented in a way we could understand and he answered any questions we had. We never felt rushed or that he needed to move on to the next p...

“I am so grateful for his care

Dr. Cohen is not only a gifted surgeon but he also has a great bedside manner. It's often difficult to get this combination in a surgeon. I am so grateful for his care and so pl...

“Dr. Cohen has been a wonderful plastic surgeon

Dr. Cohen has been a wonderful plastic surgeon. He has been willing to work within my goals to avoid implants and the results are fabulous.

“Dr. Cohen was kind and patient

Dr. Cohen was kind and patient. He walked me through the whole process and explained everything!

“I was satisfied with my appointment

Mr. Cohen was highly recommended by my nurse that I have had in my medical. History for the last 7 years, she strongly recommended him and was very excited that I was getting to...

“This man is absolutely amazing

Extremely kind, very detailed oriented, did an absolute amazing job and I just gave him 5 stars or 10 stars the highest level possible. This man is absolutely amazing in all cat...

“Dr Cohen provided excellent care

Dr Cohen provided excellent care. He maintained my privacy during office procedure. He is very knowledgeable, skillful, and easy to talk to.

“ He has been very kind

I actually have had only two appointments with this surgeon and no surgery yet. He has been very kind and explanatory about everything, answered all my questions and spent plent...

“He has been absolutely the best

Dr Cohen is conscientious and explains things well and completely. When he was with me, my concerns were dealt with immediately and I felt I had his full attention. He has been ...

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How does direct-to-implant reconstruction differ from other types of breast reconstruction?

Direct-to-implant reconstruction involves placing the final implant immediately after mastectomy without the need for a tissue expander.

Is direct-to-implant reconstruction suitable for all patients?

Not all patients are candidates for direct-to-implant reconstruction. It is typically recommended for those who do not require radiation therapy, want to maintain the same size and appearance, and those who are candidates for nipple and skin-sparing mastectomies.

What type of implant is used in direct-to-implant reconstruction?

Both saline and silicone implants can be used in direct-to-implant reconstruction. Dr. Cohen will discuss the options with you to determine the best choice based on your goals and anatomy.

What can I expect in terms of recovery time?

Most patients can return to light activities within a few weeks, gradually returning to all their usual activities as healing progresses. Dr. Cohen will provide detailed post-operative care instructions to ensure a smooth recovery. At the end of the healing process, we fully expect our patients to return to all aspects of their lives without interference.

Are there risks associated with direct-to-implant reconstruction?

As with any surgery, there are risks, including infection, implant displacement, capsular contracture, and complications related to healing. Dr. Cohen will discuss these risks with you and take steps to minimize them.

Will the results look natural?

Dr. Cohen uses advanced techniques to ensure that the results of direct-to-implant reconstruction are as natural-looking as possible, focusing on symmetry and proportion.

Does insurance cover direct-to-implant reconstruction?

Most insurance plans cover direct-to-implant reconstruction as part of breast cancer treatment. Our office will work with your insurance provider to ensure coverage.

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