Implications of Mobile Applications for Breast Surgery: A Systematic Review

Breast surgery involves a long patient journey, from preoperative counseling through to postoperative rehabilitation, with high information needs and recovery that is difficult to monitor after discharge. Mobile apps have increasingly been developed to support patients through this journey, but how well they work is unclear. This review examined mobile apps designed to support patients having breast surgery at all stages of care. This Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-compliant review searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to June 2026 for studies of mobile apps used at any point in the breast surgery pathway. No restrictions were placed on the type of procedure, comparator, or outcome. A narrative synthesis was undertaken. The primary search returned 6999 records, with 20 studies meeting the inclusion criteria after screening. Apps served 5 purposes: preoperative education, treatment decision support, postoperative symptom management, remote monitoring, and rehabilitation. Remote monitoring apps showed the clearest benefit, reducing in-person visits without increasing complications. Education apps consistently reduced anxiety and improved patient satisfaction. Decision-support apps reduced uncertainty and, in one study, improved body image. Symptom-management apps gave the least consistent results, working best alongside additional human contact. Rehabilitation apps remain early-stage, investigated only in small pilots. In conclusion, mobile apps are being developed across the breast surgery pathway and are well received by patients, but effectiveness varies by purpose. Remote monitoring has the strongest evidence, followed by preoperative education. Decision-support, symptom-management, and rehabilitation apps require more definitive trials before patient satisfaction can be equated with real clinical benefit.