INTRODUCTION In 2010, breast cancer was the most common cancer in Australian women (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer), accounting for 28.0% of all new cancers in women (AIHW, 2014). It affects an essential part of women's self-awareness and therefore causes a wide range of psychological trauma (Teymouri et al., 2006). Patients recently diagnosed with breast cancer are wracked not only with concerns about surviving the disease but also how treatment will affect their body image and self-image (Djohan et al., 2008). In 2007, approximately 29.2% of American women performed BR after mastectomy ( Kruper et al., 2011 ). Mastectomy tests the woman's body as an entity and the sexual and maternal dimensions of femininity (Everson, 2009; Guenot, 1995). There are three main surgical techniques of BR: a breast implant, an autologous tissue flap, or a combination of both ( Platt et al., 2011 ). Autologous reconstruction is based on the transfer of tissue flaps from donor sites such as skin, fat, and muscle to the anterior chest wall (Ahmed et al., 2005). Breast reconstruction with autologous tissue leaves extensive scarring and muscle weakness at the donor site, but can provide a BR that is more natural in appearance and feel. On the other hand, implants are less invasive but carry risks of migration, rupture or encapsulation of the implant, and implants do not age with the woman's body (Fallbjörk, 2012). Women undergoing breast reconstruction have better psychological adjustment than other breast cancers. patients (Harcourt and Rumsey, 2001). Over time, BRs offer more options to achieve a satisfactory outcome (Djohan et al., 2008). Women undergoing flap reconstruction may be surprised by the amount of scarring and…half of paper…mastectomy? Annals of Plastic Surgery, (5), 567.Kasper, A. S. (1995). The social construction of breast loss and reconstruction. Women's Health 1, 197-219. Kruper, L. (2011). Disparities in reconstruction rates after mastectomy: patterns of care and factors associated with the use of breast reconstruction in Southern California. Annals of surgical oncology, (8), 2158-2165.Piot‐Ziegler, C. (2010). Mastectomy, deconstruction of the body and impact on identity: a qualitative study. British Journal of Health Psychology, (3), 479-510. Platt, J., Baxter, N., Zhong, T. (2011). Breast reconstruction after mastectomy for breast cancer. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 183 (18), 2109-2116. Teymouri, H.R., Stergioula, S., Eder, M., Kovacs, L., Biemer, E., Papadopulos, N.A. (2006). Breast reconstruction with autologous tissue after mastectomy. Hippocracy, 10 (4), 153-162.