WORLD JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY
Fri, Nov 21, 2025
[Archive]
1- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA
2- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA & Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, California, USA
3- Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, California, USA
4- Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, California, USA ,hossein.masoomi@kp.org
2- Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Pasadena, California, USA & Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, California, USA
3- Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, California, USA
4- Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center, Harbor City, California, USA ,
Abstract: (18 Views)
Background: Contralateral breast symmetry procedure is often required to achieve symmetry following unilateral breast reconstruction. No
consensus exists regarding timing of contralateral symmetry procedure. We investigated frequency and safety of simultaneous contralateral breast
symmetry procedure in unilateral free flap breast reconstruction using a large nationwide database.
Methods: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Project database, we examined clinical data of patients who
underwent immediate or delayed unilateral free flap breast reconstruction from 2016 to 2020 in the United States. Patients were divided in two groups:
with or without simultaneous contralateral reduction mammoplasty or mastopexy.
Results: Overall, 5.429 patients underwent unilateral free flap-based breast reconstruction. Simultaneous symmetrization was reported in only 8% of
these patients. There was no significant difference in overall complication rate (without: 15.9% vs. with: 15.2%), unplanned return to the operating
room rate (without: 10.9% vs. with: 8.3%), mean length of hospital stay (without: 3.8 vs. with: 3.5 day) and unplanned re-admission rate (without:
5.5% vs. with: 4.1%) between two groups. Additionally, multivariate regression analyses showed simultaneous symmetrization was not associated
with higher complication rate, higher unplanned return to the operating room rate, higher readmission rate, nor longer length of hospital stay after
adjusting for patient’s characteristics, comorbidities and immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction.
Conclusion: Simultaneous symmetrization was performed infrequently with unilateral free flap breast reconstruction. Our study showed simultaneous
symmetrization is safe and associated with a comparable perioperative outcome. Consideration in appropriate patients will likely reduce the number
of revisions for those undergoing unilateral free flap breast reconstruction.
consensus exists regarding timing of contralateral symmetry procedure. We investigated frequency and safety of simultaneous contralateral breast
symmetry procedure in unilateral free flap breast reconstruction using a large nationwide database.
Methods: Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgery Quality Improvement Project database, we examined clinical data of patients who
underwent immediate or delayed unilateral free flap breast reconstruction from 2016 to 2020 in the United States. Patients were divided in two groups:
with or without simultaneous contralateral reduction mammoplasty or mastopexy.
Results: Overall, 5.429 patients underwent unilateral free flap-based breast reconstruction. Simultaneous symmetrization was reported in only 8% of
these patients. There was no significant difference in overall complication rate (without: 15.9% vs. with: 15.2%), unplanned return to the operating
room rate (without: 10.9% vs. with: 8.3%), mean length of hospital stay (without: 3.8 vs. with: 3.5 day) and unplanned re-admission rate (without:
5.5% vs. with: 4.1%) between two groups. Additionally, multivariate regression analyses showed simultaneous symmetrization was not associated
with higher complication rate, higher unplanned return to the operating room rate, higher readmission rate, nor longer length of hospital stay after
adjusting for patient’s characteristics, comorbidities and immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction.
Conclusion: Simultaneous symmetrization was performed infrequently with unilateral free flap breast reconstruction. Our study showed simultaneous
symmetrization is safe and associated with a comparable perioperative outcome. Consideration in appropriate patients will likely reduce the number
of revisions for those undergoing unilateral free flap breast reconstruction.
Type of Study: Original Article |
Subject:
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