In the United States, one out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lives.¹ Breast cancer can be a devastating disease, but the medical community has worked tirelessly to improve breast cancer options. Advanced treatments now give many women the ability to triumph over their breast cancer diagnosis, while reconstructive surgery allows them to restore their sense of self. San Francisco Plastic Surgeon Dr. Karen Horton is a longtime advocate for increased access to advanced breast cancer reconstruction and she specializes in natural-looking breast reconstruction surgery.

Allison’s Story

When Allison, a single mom, was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer, she took action by researching surgeons in order to find the best care available. In addition to oncological care, she wanted to find an experienced reconstructive surgeon who could deliver beautiful aesthetic results. When it came to choosing her reconstructive surgeon, Allison says that, “within two minutes of meeting Dr. Horton, I was convinced that she was the only person for me.” In addition to Dr. Horton’s surgical skill, Allison was also impressed by the care and attention she received from the support staff at Dr. Horton’s practice.

Watch Allison’s interview video to learn more about her experience, including how the preoperative process with Dr. Horton helped her get through surgery without fear:

How Implant Reconstruction Works

Dr. Horton offers a full range of reconstructive options, and she takes the time to talk to each patient about their goals and review their medical history in order to develop a customized treatment plan. Allison’s surgical plan involved reconstruction using breast implants. Dr. Horton specializes in Prepectoral Single-Stage Implant Reconstruction, in which a breast implant is placed on top of the chest muscle. In Dr. Horton’s extensive experience with this reconstruction method, she is able to spare the nipple in over 99% of cases. Some reconstruction techniques require multiple surgeries and the use of tissue expanders, but patients who are candidates for implant reconstruction can have a single procedure. Dr. Horton does not use acellular dermal matrices (ADMs), which are artificial tissues that are sometimes used in implant reconstruction, and she focuses on natural looking results and personalized care.

About Dr. Horton

Learn about Dr. Horton’s journey to becoming an accomplished Plastic Surgeon in San Francisco, and her philosophy of care:

Contact Dr. Horton for Breast Reconstruction Surgery in San Francisco

Dr. Karen Horton believes that her role extends beyond the operating room. She is dedicated to educating, informing, and empowering each of her patients so they can feel confident in their treatment plan. Contact us with any questions about breast reconstruction surgery or to schedule a consultation appointment.

^{1 U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on November 2018 submission data (1999-2016): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute; www.cdc.gov/cancer/dataviz, June 2019.}