Effect of Immediate Breast Reconstruction after Standardized Breast Cancer Surgery on the Quality of Life of Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the impact of immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) after standardized breast cancer (BC) surgery on the quality of life of patients. Methods. A total of 878 BC patients were included, who were diagnosed and treated in the breast surgery department between January 2016 and December 2018. The patient underwent immediate postoperative breast reconstruction surgery. Subsequently, safety, efficacy, and postoperative morphology were scored and evaluated for the comprehensive analysis of the clinical therapeutic effects. Results. With longer postoperative time, a lower proportion of the follow-up population experienced limb edema, capsular contracture, infection, calcifications around the prosthesis, prosthesis dislocation, delayed wound healing, chronic lymphadenopathy, pain, and prosthesis rupture, indicating a high safety. And the follow-up patients’ breast appearance and shape largely returned to normal at 12 months postoperatively. Additionally, patients with 3 and 6 months of follow-up had a higher quality of life and better aesthetic breast reconstruction outcomes compared to the perioperative period. Conclusion. The implementation of standardized IBR after breast cancer improves the quality of life of patients after surgery with fewer complications and a good safety profile.