Implications of Individual, Demographic and Economic Factors on Symmetrization Decision Making During Two-Stage...

In order to achieve a symmetrical result during unilateral breast reconstruction, a procedure on the contralateral breast is often necessary, the performance of which ultimately depends on the patient's decision. The aim of this study is to identify the factors that may influence this decision in patients during second-stage breast reconstruction with implants.

Women with breast cancer diagnosis who underwent unilateral second-stage breast reconstruction with implant placement between 2012 and 2022 in our hospital were included.

Five hundred thirty-three patients underwent unilateral second-stage implant-based breast reconstruction in the study period. Simultaneous symmetrization of the contralateral breast was performed in 406 (76.17%) patients. Age and premium health insurance were associated with patients undergoing contralateral breast symmetrization with statistical significance. In addition, younger patients underwent symmetrization by augmentation mastoplasty with a statistically significant association. On the other hand, within the same group of patients, we found a statistically significant association between body mass index (BMI) and the type of symmetrization performed. Among the patients who underwent contralateral breast symmetrization, the majority (43.52%) answered that the main reason for doing so was that they wanted to "feel more balanced".

The decision to perform contralateral breast symmetrization during second-stage breast reconstruction is associated with demographic and economic factors such as patient age and insurance coverage of surgery costs. In addition, patient age and weight influence the choice of the most appropriate symmetrization procedure.

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