Immediate breast reconstruction with implants in patients undergoing mastectomy for carcinoma - review article

Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) with implants has become an integral part of comprehensive care for patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer. This review summarizes current evidence on indications, contraindications, surgical techniques, complications, and clinical outcomes of IBR with an implant. Properly selected pa-tients benefit from enhanced psychological well-being, shorter recovery, and improved cosmetic results. IBR is primarily indicated in women with stage T1-T2 tumors without metastases. Contraindications include advanced disease, the requirement for adjuvant radiotherapy, comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, or smoking, and poor skin flap qual-ity. The most widely used surgical approach is the direct-to-implant (DTI) technique, allowing definitive reconstruction in a single operation. Potential complications include infection, seroma, capsular contracture, skin necrosis, and implant exposure. Their incidence depends on tissue quality, surgical exper-tise, and patient-related risk factors. Current studies demonstrate that IBR does not adversely affect oncologic safety nor delay adjuvant treatment. In addition, IBR has been shown to be cost-effective and to yield high patient satisfaction, particularly in domains of body image, sexuality, and psychosocial adjustment. In conclusion, IBR with implants represents a safe and effective reconstructive option for appropriately selected patients.