Long-term Implications of Cosmetic Breast Surgeries on Subsequent Breast Reconstruction.

Abstract

Cosmetic breast surgeries, such as augmentation, mastopexy, and reduction, are common aesthetic medical procedures for enhancing physical appearance. Despite their popularity, the influence of these surgeries on subsequent breast reconstruction for cancer patients remains underexplored. This study seeks to investigate the effects of previous cosmetic breast surgeries on the outcomes of breast reconstruction. A retrospective chart review was conducted from January 2011 to May 2023. This analysis compared patients with histories of implant augmentation, breast reduction, mastopexy, and augmentation-mastopexy against those receiving reconstruction without any cosmetic surgery history. Demographics, comorbidities, complications, revisions, and BREAST-Q surveys were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance set at p<0.05. The study included 124 patients (50 autologous, 74 implant) with a history of cosmetic breast surgery (102 implant augmentations, 17 breast reductions, five mastopexies, and nine augmentation mastopexies). They were analyzed against 1307 patients (683 autologous, 624 implant) without prior cosmetic breast surgery. Patients with prior cosmetic surgeries showed a higher incidence of hematoma with tissue expander placement. A preference for implant-based reconstruction was more common among patients with augmentation history (p<0.001), whereas autologous reconstruction was more common in those with history of breast reduction (p=0.047). Patients with history of breast augmentation had on average significantly more breast revisions (p <0.05). This study demonstrates a significantly higher hematoma rate and number of revisions compared to patients without a history of cosmetic surgery. Furthermore, it suggests that types of cosmetic breast surgery influence the decision-making process regarding implant versus autologous reconstruction.