Patient satisfaction with delayed breast reconstruction: a prospective study.

Several studies have shown that mastectomy causes psychosocial disturbances and problems with body image. Patients experience inconvenience with an external prosthesis. Reconstruction can correct these disturbances and make prosthesis redundant. This prospective study was designed to evaluate satisfaction among women who underwent delayed breast reconstruction. The study population consisted of 75 women operated at Töölö Hospital from August to December 1999. Sixty-seven operations were free microvascular transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous reconstructions and eight were latissimus dorsi flap reconstructions. The response rate was 80% at both 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The main reason why the women sought reconstruction was the inconvenience of the prosthesis. Preoperative expectations were fulfilled in 90% of patients. An overwhelming majority expressed satisfaction with the outcome. The most often reported benefit was having a new breast of one's own. The main drawbacks were the difficult operation and the unexpectedly long recovery time. Reconstruction alleviated markedly neck, shoulder, and back pain. There was no change in patient self-esteem but there was a substantial positive change in how they felt about their looks. The authors suggest that breast reconstruction should be offered as an option to all women undergoing mastectomy.