ABSTRACT
Proponents of immediate reconstruction believe that the potential deleterious effects of any subsequent postmastectomy radiotherapy on the final outcome of the reconstruction are modest and willingly accept the trade-off for the benefits of immediate reconstruction. Immediate reconstruction has multiple benefits, which include improvement of psychological well-being and quality of life. In patients anticipating autologous reconstruction, preservation of the skin envelope and breast shape are optimized if reconstruction is performed in the immediate setting. K. A. Behranwala and colleagues reported that capsule formation is three times more likely to occur after immediate implant-based reconstruction when associated with irradiation. S. J. Kronowitz first reported on outcomes from delayed-immediate breast reconstruction as far back as 2004. The ultimate benefit of delayed-immediate reconstruction is to have an aesthetic outcome approaching immediate reconstruction in the setting of uncertainty about postmastectomy radiotherapy. Delayed-immediate breast reconstruction combines the aesthetic outcomes while minimizing any adverse effects caused by radiation therapy.
