The removal of a breast, usually for treatment of breast cancer, presents both physical and emotional difficulties for women. Plastic surgical procedures are available which can reconstruct the breast following mastectomy. Reconstruction can be unilateral, in the case of unilateral mastectomy, or bilateral, in the case of bilateral mastectomies. Breast reconstruction is usually performed at the time of the mastectomy, but may also be performed in a delayed manner, sometime after the mastectomy.