New 1-Day Surgery Can Remove Cancer & Reconstruct the Breast

But what happened next changed her story—and may signal a shift in how early breast cancer is treated. At Montefiore Cancer Center in New York, McPherson was introduced to a team exploring a new one-day surgical procedure that removes cancer and reconstructs the breast in the same operation. It’s called total breast reconstruction, and it combines mastectomy with immediate reconstruction rather than staging them months apart.

Traditionally, women facing DCIS or other early breast cancers undergo mastectomy first, then wait for healing or follow-up treatments before reconstruction. That waiting period can stretch into months or longer, often leaving patients to live with an altered body image during one of the most emotionally demanding times of their lives. The Montefiore approach compresses that entire journey into a single, coordinated operation.

Dr. Pedro Piccinini, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Montefiore, explains that the goal is both medical and emotional. “We’re taking out the cancer and restoring what’s lost in one step,” he told ABC News. The method involves placing breast implants beneath the chest muscles immediately after tissue removal. Doing so helps stabilize the implant and lower risks like infection, movement, or fluid buildup. It also allows for a more natural shape and less pain during recovery because surgeons no longer need to cut through muscle.

McPherson, who had seen her aunt suffer complications after a mastectomy years earlier, didn’t hesitate for long. Six months after her diagnosis, she decided to move forward with the one-day surgery. Her operation took just a few hours, and the next day she was already walking. Within six weeks, she was back behind the salon chair. “I’m 100 percent happy with my results,” she said, crediting her smooth recovery to both her medical team and her active lifestyle.

Beyond convenience, the potential implications are significant. Early studies and institutional data suggest that immediate reconstruction can result in shorter hospital stays, lower complication rates, and even reduced healthcare costs. Dr. Piccinini added that most insurance plans cover the combined procedure, meaning access shouldn’t be limited only to those with deep pockets.

Still, experts caution that not every patient will qualify. Factors such as tumor size, whether radiation therapy is needed, and overall health can determine eligibility. Those with larger breast sizes may experience slight differences in symmetry post-operation, so realistic expectations are important. For others, particularly those with smaller tumors or caught-early disease like DCIS, the benefits can be life-changing.

This “two-for-one” model is part of a broader movement toward immediate breast reconstruction, which many major cancer centers—including MD Anderson Cancer Center
—say offers better emotional and physical outcomes. Patients who undergo immediate reconstruction often report feeling more like themselves during recovery and experience lower rates of anxiety and depression. That psychological lift can have a real impact on healing, adherence to follow-up treatments, and even long-term survival.

McPherson says that for her, the benefits weren’t just physical. “It’s about feeling whole again,” she explained. “Do something that makes you feel better, that helps you want to live.” That renewed sense of confidence is something Dr. Piccinini sees often in his patients. “When people look in the mirror and recognize themselves, it affects everything—their mood, their relationships, their outlook,” he said.

While the Montefiore team continues to share its findings at medical conferences across the country, the hope is that the one-day approach will become a standard option for eligible breast cancer patients. The emphasis, Piccinini says, is not just on removing cancer, but on restoring quality of life from day one.

The idea of same-day mastectomy with reconstruction isn’t entirely new, but modern surgical techniques and better implant materials have made it safer and more predictable than ever. Research published through the National Library of Medicine has also shown that outpatient mastectomy with immediate reconstruction can be performed safely in properly selected patients, reducing both costs and hospital time. As more hospitals adopt this model, it could redefine what post-cancer recovery looks like for thousands of women each year.

McPherson, now in remission, has one piece of advice that predates even the surgery: never skip your yearly mammogram. Catching the disease early opened the door for her to pursue a treatment that left her both cancer-free and confident in her body. “You can’t always control what happens,” she said, “but you can decide how you come out of it.”

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