Immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction: Long-term follow-up on health-related quality of life and satisfaction with breasts

Abstract

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) can be improved by breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The optimal timing of the reconstruction remains unclear. A cross-sectional study on 338 women who had undergone immediate or delayed breast reconstruction between 08/2017 and 07/2019 was performed. The postoperative HRQL was assessed using the BREAST-Q Reconstruction Module and the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Regression analysis was performed for group-wise comparison. A total of 146 (43%) patients participated. Seventy-seven patients (53%) had undergone immediate, and 69 patients (47%) had delayed reconstruction. The median age was 55 years (interquartile ratio [IQR] 50-62) for the Immeda group te, and 60 years (IQR 54-65) for the delayed reconstruction group. The median follow-up time was 2.3 years (IQR 1.8-2.9). No difference between the groups was detected in satisfaction with breasts (median 61, IQR 53-71 vs. 62, IQR 46-71, p=0.62), physical well-being of the chest (median 100, IQR 80-100 vs. 100, IQR 80-100, p=0.95) or psychosocial well-being (median 69, IQR 54-83 vs. 62, IQR 54-74, p=0.19). No difference was detected in the SF-36 domains either. The timing of the breast reconstruction does not affect the postoperative HRQL. Patients with both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction reported high satisfaction with the breast and psychosocial well-being.