■ After mastectomy or lumpectomy surgery, as well as after radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or targeted therapies that are given. This is called delayed reconstruction. Treatments such as radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy given after surgery can cause the reconstructed breast to lose volume and change color, texture, and appearance. Radiation therapy in particular is known to cause undesirable changes to an implant reconstruction. Some surgeons advise patients to wait until after radiation and chemotherapy are finished before having breast reconstruction. This means reconstruction might be done 6 to 12 months after mastectomy or lumpectomy.