Canary Islands Health Service Adds Areola Reconstruction to Breast Cancer Recovery Care

The Canary Islands public health system is making cancer treatment more patient-centered by adding aesthetic areola reconstruction to its list of services. The Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) says this move aims to complete the recovery process for breast cancer survivors, focusing on restoring body image after surgery.

The service is currently being piloted in Tenerife, with plans to expand it across the islands. Women who have finished their reconstructive surgery and have healed properly can access the procedure with a doctor’s referral. The technique uses micropigmentation to recreate the look and shape of the areola, with the work carried out by contracted centers.

The SCS has also created a care plan that respects patient choice. For those who prefer not to have the procedure, the health service offers personalized adhesive nipple prostheses. This dual approach was finalized following meetings between health officials and patient advocacy groups, such as Ámate and Carrera por la Vida, who helped design the referral process.

This initiative fulfills a long-standing request from patient groups, who argue that cancer care should go beyond removing the tumor to include full physical and emotional recovery. By including these aesthetic options, the public health system is improving equitable access to care and acknowledging the deep impact a mastectomy can have on a woman’s identity.