Surgical Outcomes of Autologous Breast Reconstruction in Low BMI Patients; Beyond the Gold Standard DIEP Flap.

Abstract

Autologous breast reconstruction provides higher satisfaction than implant-based reconstruction in women with low Body Mass Index (BMI). However, the gold standard of microvascular breast reconstruction, the Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator (DIEP) flap, can be challenging to achieve due to the paucity of adnominal bulk in these patients. This study compares operative outcomes in women with BMIs less than 23.5 following reconstruction after one of three free flap methods: The DIEP flap, alternative flaps (I.e., lumbar artery perforator flap (LAP) or profounda artery perforator flap (PAP)), and stacked flaps. A retrospective study was conducted on thin patients (BMI < 23.5) who underwent autologous breast reconstruction between 2010 and 2021 by two senior authors (NTH, SST) at a single institution. One hundred and fifteen patients were divided into three reconstructive groups. Flap weights, complication rates, secondary revisions, and fat grafting in each group were then compared. The success rate in all three groups was 100%, with only one partial flap loss in the stacked group. There was a significant difference in overall minor complications and donor complications between the three groups, with alternative flaps experiencing the most. All three groups had similar incidences of recipient breast complications, medical complications, need for secondary revisions, and amount of fat grafted. Autologous breast reconstruction in low BMI patients yields successful and durable results. This study shows that predictable results in the thin patient population can be obtained via alternate autologous methods beyond the gold standard DIEP flap.