Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction in the Obese: A Better Option Than Tissue Expander/Implant Reconstruction?

This study aims to directly compare prosthetic and autologous reconstruction in the obese population by evaluating surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Methods: In an institutional review board–approved study, a retrospective chart review was conducted on patients with a body mass index of 30.0 kg/m2 or greater who underwent breast cancer reconstruction after mastectomy with either free tissue transfer from the abdomen or prosthetic reconstruction over a 3-year period. The authors identified 96 patients with 141 reconstructions. Demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were collected. All patients were sent the BREAST-Q questionnaire by means of mail to study the impact and effectiveness of breast surgery from the patient’s perspective. Statistical analysis was completed with Fisher’s exact test, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test, Pearson chi square test, or Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test. Results: Prosthetic-based breast reconstruction was associated with increased major breast complications (p
Source: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Category: Cosmetic Surgery Tags: Breast: Original Articles Source Type: research