Breast reconstruction using own tissues yields better results

For women who have undergone mastectomy, breast reconstruction using the patient's own tissues - rather than implants - provides higher level of satisfaction, research has found.

A mastectomy is surgery to remove a breast or part of a breast done primarily to prevent or treat breast cancer.

"Autologous breast reconstruction (with the patient's own tissues) leads to more satisfaction than does implant breast reconstruction, notwithstanding that women with an autologous breast reconstruction more often required a secondary correction," said plastic surgeon Yassir Eltahir University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands.

Women have several options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy, in terms of the type of reconstruction and immediate versus delayed reconstruction.

The researchers used the recently developed "BREAST-Q" questionnaire to analyze patient satisfaction and quality of life after breast reconstruction.

The study included BREAST-Q surveys completed by 92 women who had breast reconstruction between 2006 and 2010.

Forty-seven women underwent autologous reconstruction. The remaining 45 women underwent alloplastic reconstruction, using implants.

Many of these women underwent preventive double mastectomy because of high genetic risk of breast cancer.

The results suggested that women choosing reconstruction with their own tissues were more satisfied with the results.

The study appeared in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.