One-stage immediate breast reconstruction with implant following skin-sparing mastectomy in Asian patients

The Asian breast reconstruction patient is usually of lower mean age, lower body mass index (BMI), and has relatively small breasts. This study aimed to investigate the outcome of 1-stage immediate breast reconstruction using saline-filled implants in the Asian patients. Between April 2002 and July 2005, 30 patients underwent skin-sparing mastectomy and 1-stage immediate breast reconstruction with a saline-filled implant. Mean age was 42.9 years, with a mean BMI of 21.9 and a mean implant volume of 283 mL. The overall success rate was 96.6%, with 1 case of implant exposure secondary to chest skin necrosis. At mean follow-up of 21.5 months (range 6 to 40 months), 1 patient developed local recurrence (3.33%). Perfusion of the chest skin flap is reliable enough to allow 1-stage breast reconstruction with small saline-filled breast implants. We present this as an additional option for immediate breast reconstruction in thin women with small breasts.