“I’m Happy With My New Boobs:” ‘Baywatch’ Star Nicole Eggert, 53, Embraces Life After Breast Cancer Surgery—Why Reconstruction Isn’t Just Cosmetic

A mastectomy involves the removal of the entire breast, and for many women, breast reconstruction becomes a vital part of healing—physically and emotionally. Options range from implants to using one’s own tissue, and timing can vary from immediate reconstruction during surgery to delayed procedures months or even years later.

Eggert, never one to shy away from honesty, is embracing her new body with confidence.

“I get to wear really small bras, and I’m really happy with my boobs,” she said, adding with a smile that her doctor gave her “the cutest little boobs.”

Dr. Andrea Pusic, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, affirms the deeper significance of reconstruction: “Breast reconstruction is a restoration of a woman’s form and her sense of self.”

But Eggert’s journey hasn’t been without emotional weight. She undergoes imaging every six months to monitor her progress—a routine that brings both relief and anxiety. Her latest scans were clear, but the wait for results remains a psychological hurdle.

WATCH: Breast Cancer Survivor Finds Strength In The ‘Hope Chest’

“To all the people who said to me, in a year or two years from now, you’re going to look back and this will all be over with and you won’t remember this happened. BS, this is a forever thing, and it is overwhelming,” Eggert shared in a raw Instagram video, pushing back against the idea that cancer is ever truly “behind” someone.

How Breast Reconstruction Works

RELATED: Did You Know Most Health Insurers Are Required To Pay For Breast Reconstruction Surgery?

“Breast reconstruction is a restoration of a woman’s form and her sense of self. A lot of breast reconstruction is trying to erase the trauma of the mastectomy surgery, putting cancer behind a patient, saying this is in the rearview mirror, and putting her back on track,” Dr. Andrea Pusic, chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Brigham Health, previously told SurvivorNet.

WATCH: Breaking Down Breast Reconstruction Options

Plastic surgeons can reconstruct your breasts with implants or with your own tissue taken from some other place on your body, such as your back, your abdomen, or your inner thigh. Reconstruction that uses your own tissue is called a flap procedure. A flap can produce breasts that look and feel more natural than implants.

Like natural breasts, they can also change as your body changes. For example, they can get bigger or smaller as your weight changes. However, not all women are eligible for this surgery, such as those who smoke, have poorly controlled diabetes, circulation problems, or connective tissue disorders. Luckily, there’s another option.

Breast implant surgery is a significantly more straightforward process than a flap procedure; therefore, the recovery process is much quicker. However, implants won’t look and feel as much like natural breasts. As you age or gain or lose weight, the implants will stay the same, which could make them look less natural over time.

Implants can sometimes leak or burst. In this case, you would have to have them replaced. When choosing implants, women will then need to decide whether they want saline or silicone ones.

The main difference between the two is that saline is a sterile saltwater-filled implant and typically requires less monitoring since it’ll be pronounced if it starts leaking. While silicone implants usually feel better and look more realistic, they require more surveillance during an MRI. Additionally, if the silicone leaks, it doesn’t jeopardize your health, but it will need to be replaced immediately.

WATCH: Regaining your sense of self after reconstruction.

Reconstruct Now or Later?

Immediate reconstruction can produce better-looking results than delayed reconstruction, resulting in fewer surgeries overall. However, it may require a longer initial hospitalization and recovery time. This long surgery may also have a higher risk of complications, such as infections, than two separate surgeries.

It may be worth noting that “Delayed reconstruction has fewer complications than immediate reconstruction,” Dr. Terry Myckatyn, a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reconstruction, tells SurvivorNet.

Nicole Eggert’s Cancer Fight: From Self-Exam Discovery to Empowered Healing and Advocacy

Eggert’s cancer journey began after discovering a lump in her breast while performing a self-exam—a crucial tool for early detection of abnormalities. This led to her diagnosis of stage 2 cribriform carcinoma breast cancer.

Self-breast exams involve checking for swelling, changes in shape, or nipple irregularities, as well as signs of redness, rashes, or discharge. If any concerns arise, it’s essential to contact a doctor. However, these exams should always be done alongside regular mammograms for comprehensive screening.

Initially, Eggert dismissed her symptoms—terrible pain and rapid weight gain—as signs of menopause. But after discovering the lump, she underwent a mammogram and multiple biopsies, confirming her cancer diagnosis.

WATCH: The process of mastectomy breast cancer surgery.

“I can definitely feel it. It’s there. It needs to be taken out,” Eggert told People Magazine. “So it’s just a matter of, do I have to do treatment before the surgery, or can they perform the surgery and then I do the treatment after?”

To treat her cancer, Eggert underwent a mastectomy, a procedure that requires careful consideration. Women facing this decision often weigh the choice between breast-conserving surgery, like a lumpectomy, and a full mastectomy.

Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery at Mount Sinai Health System, explains that removing the cancerous tissue in a double mastectomy typically takes about two hours. However, the overall surgery length can vary depending on whether a patient chooses reconstruction.

“The real length, the total length of the surgery, can often depend on what type of reconstruction [a patient] has,” Dr. Port says.

Some women opt for immediate reconstruction using implants, which can extend surgery to five hours, while others choose tissue transfer from the belly area. A few decide to forgo reconstruction altogether.

Eggert also underwent chemotherapy and radiation, which can lead to common side effects such as fatigue, nausea, and hair loss.

Since beginning her cancer journey, Eggert has become more proactive about her health.

“That’s really what’s kept me going and sane because you feel so hopeless … helpless and all of those things, but if you’re being proactive, it can really help,” she told Fox News. “At least for myself, it really helps to keep me motivated and keep me going.”

Her story serves as a testament to the resilience of cancer patients and the importance of self-care and proactive health decisions.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

If you’re going through cancer treatment and experiencing hair loss, here are some questions you may consider asking your doctor:

• Are there any treatments to help manage or minimize my hair loss?
• What are scalp-cooling devices, and how do they work?
• Do you recommend scalp-cooling devices?
• What other options are available to help me cope with hair loss?
• Can you recommend a wig maker?
• I’m struggling mentally with my hair loss; can you recommend a therapist to talk to?
• How can I find a local support group with people going through similar things?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

---