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Review
. 2024 Jul 3;16(7):e63772.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.63772. eCollection 2024 Jul.

A Comparative Study on Aesthetic and Pain Outcomes in Flap Versus Implant Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

Kenneth Aleman Paredes  1 , Jennifer V Castillo  2 , Mauricio Montelongo Quevedo  2 , Arantza Ocejo  3 , Héctor A Vázquez Lechuga  4 , Karime M Navarro Camara  5 , Daniela Ponce Figueroa  6 , Diana K Falcón García  7 , Carina L Nolasco Mendoza  1 , Jaqueline L Castillo  2 , Jose A Victoria Enriquez  8 , Jose R Flores Valdés  9
Affiliations
Review

A Comparative Study on Aesthetic and Pain Outcomes in Flap Versus Implant Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy

Kenneth Aleman Paredes et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Surgical treatments, including mastectomy and subsequent breast reconstruction, are critical components of breast cancer management. This systematic review compares the outcomes of flap versus implant reconstruction post-mastectomy, focusing on aesthetic differences, pain, recovery, and psychological adaptation. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Cochrane, and ScienceDirect databases. Inclusion criteria targeted studies comparing aesthetic outcomes, pain, recovery costs, duration, and psychological adaptation between flap and implant breast reconstructions. We excluded non-English and non-Spanish studies, case reports, and those without full-text availability. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). From an initial pool of 25,881 articles, 16 high-quality studies involving 14,196 participants were selected for synthesis. Flap reconstruction was associated with higher patient satisfaction regarding aesthetic outcomes and psychological well-being but also had higher complication rates, including infections and wound dehiscence. Implant reconstruction showed fewer complications but did not achieve the same level of patient satisfaction. Flap reconstruction, despite its higher complication rates, tends to provide superior aesthetic and psychological outcomes compared to implant reconstruction. These findings highlight the importance of personalized treatment plans considering individual patient needs and preferences. Future research should focus on long-term randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and standardized outcome measures to further delineate the comparative effectiveness of these reconstruction techniques. Personalized care and ongoing research are essential to improving the quality of life for breast cancer survivors undergoing reconstruction.

Keywords: breast flap; breast implant; plastic and reconstructive surgery; primary breast malignancy; radical mastectomy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA
PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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