Immediate Skin Replacement Allows for Nipple-sparing, Direct-to-implant Reconstruction in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancers

Abstract

Summary: Mastectomy has evolved from approaches that involved extensive skin resection to nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM). However, patients with advanced breast cancers who require extensive skin resection usually also have their nipple areola complexes (NACs) removed, even if they are distant from the cancer. Implant reconstruction in these patients is challenging as they require tissue expansion and, typically, radiotherapy with additional surgeries to complete their reconstruction. The aesthetic results of this approach are inferior to NSM and direct-to-implant reconstruction. In patients who require significant skin resection but whose NACs are free of tumor, we have found that immediate skin replacement using a muscle-sparing latissimus dorsi flap allows for NSM and direct-to-implant reconstruction, obviating the need for tissue expansion, delayed implant placement, and NAC reconstruction. Here, we report on 12 patients in whom this approach is utilized.