Abstract
More than 250,000 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United
States in 2017 alone. A large number of these patients will undergo mastectomy and
will be candidates for immediate breast reconstruction. The most common reconstructive
options are either implant-based or autologous tissue reconstruction, with the latter
having been reported to have higher rates of long-term patient satisfaction, lower
cost, and less postoperative pain. A subset of patients, however, may not be ideal
candidates for autologous microsurgical reconstruction, for example, due to inadequate
abdominal tissues, yet they may desire this reconstructive modality. This is particularly
challenging in patients requiring bilateral reconstructions. In this article, the
authors discuss the various reconstructive modalities that can be considered in patients
who desire bilateral breast reconstruction, are not ideal candidates for autologous
reconstruction, yet do not wish to rely solely on implant-based modalities.
Keywords
plastic surgery - microsurgery - breast implant - breast reconstruction - deep inferior
epigastric perforator - TRAM - free flap
