Reconstructive surgery
Cancer itself or cancer treatments may affect the way your body works or looks. When this happens, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA) and the UW Center for Reconstructive Surgery provide expert solutions. UW Medicine’s reconstructive plastic surgeons help to improve function, change appearance or both for patients who get cancer care through SCCA.
We offer a wide range of methods to help you look and feel restored. As always, we fit your care to your exact case as well as your goals, preferences and values. Reconstructive procedures for SCCA patients take place at UW Medical Center – Montlake and UW Medical Center – Northwest.
What is reconstructive surgery?
For people with cancer, reconstructive surgery is done to correct, improve or change function or appearance when cancer or its treatment affects the body.
Reconstructive surgery is different from cosmetic surgery. The goal is to restore function or form that was altered. Cosmetic surgery is done when a person chooses to change the look of a healthy body part that is “normal” or typical. It is elective surgery.
Diseases and procedures
UW Medicine reconstructive surgeons treat people with many types of cancer or related conditions, including these:
Some UW Medicine surgeons who remove tumors also provide reconstruction, when needed, for several other cancer types, including these:
- Bladder cancer — to create a new system to collect and drain urine if surgeons remove your bladder
- Head and neck cancer — to replace skin, bone, muscle or other tissue to restore your appearance or important functions, like swallowing and speaking
- Lung cancer — to rebuild part of your chest if surgeons need to remove a tumor in the chest wall
First appointment
Your first appointment to discuss reconstructive surgery is a time for you and your surgery team to meet. You will talk about your diagnosis and how reconstructive surgery may fit into your treatment plan. Typically, SCCA patients have already seen other members of their SCCA care team and know the plan for treating their cancer before coming to see us about reconstructive surgery. We adapt the process and timing to meet your needs.
Your first appointment is also a time for the reconstructive surgery team to start getting to know you personally. This helps us tailor our recommendations to you based on your treatment plan, preferences and goals. Together, you and your care team decide what to do next.
We encourage everyone to bring a family member or friend to their first appointment (and any future visits).
Meet the Care Team from UW Center for Reconstructive Surgery
What to expect
First appointments usually last up to one hour. Here is what you can expect to happen.

Reconstructive surgery may be an important step toward restoring the way your body works or looks. It may make a difference in your health, comfort and ability to do what you need and want to do. In some cases, reconstruction is less about restoring function and more about restoring appearance. The way your body looks may affect your sense of well-being or how you view yourself. These are all valid reasons to think about having reconstruction.
Based on your exact cancer, reconstruction may be optional (elective) or necessary. For example, people with breast cancer may choose to have breast reconstruction or not. However, if cancer surgery exposes important structures (like blood vessels, nerves, organs or bones), you will need reconstruction. Your surgeon will talk with you about the aspects of your cancer or your treatment that make you a candidate — whether the focus is on function, appearance or both.

Based on the details of your disease and the treatments you have had or plan to have, your surgeon will explain your options. One approach may clearly be the best fit in cases like yours. Sometimes there is more than one possible approach. We will tailor your options to your unique case and your wishes. During your visit, your surgeon will talk with you about:
- What we recommend for you and why
- What the results may be like
- How reconstruction fits in with your other care
- When reconstruction will happen
- What you can do to get the best outcome
- How our team supports you throughout the process

These appointments are also a time for you to tell us about yourself. Each patient and family has their own needs, values and preferences. We want to get to know you so we understand the best way to care for you. For example, it is helpful for us to know:
- How much detail you would like about the procedures and what to expect
- What your goals are for reconstruction
- What matters most to you about the process of getting care
- Who is available to support and take care of you when you need help
- What concerns you have about deciding whether to have reconstruction

Throughout your first appointment (and after), we are here to answer your questions. We want to help you understand as much as you wish to about your disease, your treatment and how care happens at SCCA and UW Medicine. To get you started, here are some questions you might want to ask:
- What are the benefits and risks of reconstruction?
- How soon would I have reconstruction?
- What do you expect my recovery to be like?
- What are the results likely to be in my case?
- What happens if I have a complication?
We strongly encourage you to bring a friend or family member with you. They can help keep track of your questions and the information that your team gives you.

Before you leave, we make sure you know what is going to happen next and how you can reach us if you have questions later. We will schedule your future visits or make sure you know when and how to schedule.
If you would like more time to think before deciding about reconstruction, we understand. Ask your team to explain how soon you need to decide.
In some cases, reconstruction is done at the same time as surgery to remove the cancer. In other cases, it can be done weeks, months or years later. Your team will talk with you about the timeline in your case.
Research
At SCCA and UW Medicine, our physicians and researchers are always asking how we can make treatment better and reduce side effects. This is why we do research, including clinical trials. Through these studies, we are able to offer you therapies that are not available everywhere.
Our experts have done research on a range of topics that relate to reconstructive surgery, such as:
- How to reduce the risk of infection
- How to improve long-term results
- How to refine methods and make immediate reconstruction possible