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Evolution of Breast Reconstruction: Current Techniques, Advances and Future Directions
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Evolution of Breast Reconstruction: Current Techniques, Advances and Future Directions

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery/Aesthetic Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2025) | Viewed by 2202

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Dung Nguyen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
Interests: breast reconstruction; microsurgery; supermicrosurgery; neurotization; lymphatic surgery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrea Moreira

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Centers, Pittsburgh, PA 15238, USA
Interests: breast reconstruction; microsurgery; robot-assisted surgery; breast neurotization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The field of breast reconstruction has witnessed significant advancements over the past decade, driven by evolving reconstructive demands and the desire to improve patient outcomes. With the emergence of new techniques in both implant-based and autologous reconstruction, as well as an increasing interest in integrating lymphatic procedures for lymphedema prevention and treatment, the landscape of breast reconstruction continues to transform.

The aim of this Special Issue is to curate a collection of at least 10 articles that capture the current achievements in breast reconstruction, spotlight innovations that expand reconstructive indications or enhance aesthetics and clinical outcomes, and explore research shaping the future of this field.

Suggested Themes and Article Types for Submission:

Reviews and Meta-Analyses:

  1. Systematic review of breast reconstruction outcomes over the last decade;
  2. Meta-analysis of complication rates in autologous vs. implant-based reconstruction;
  3. Review of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in breast reconstruction.

Surgical Techniques and Innovations:

  1. Evolution of breast reconstruction techniques: historical perspectives to modern innovations;
  2. Advancements in autologous tissue reconstruction: DIEP flaps and beyond;
  3. Robotic breast reconstruction;
  4. The omentum flap for breast reconstruction;
  5. Implant-based reconstruction: latest technologies and materials;
  6. Prepectoral vs. subpectoral implant placement: pros and cons;
  7. Nipple-sparing mastectomy: indications, techniques and outcomes;
  8. Update on targeted nipple and flap innervation in implant and autologous reconstruction.

Research and Future Directions:

  1. Prophylactic lymphatic reconstruction combined with breast reconstruction;
  2. Concurrent autologous breast reconstruction with lymphatic reconstruction;
  3. Aesthetic refinements in breast reconstruction: enhancing symmetry and natural appearance;
  4. AI, HoloLens, 3D imaging and printing in preoperative planning and simulation;
  5. Breast reconstruction in the obese and overweight population: techniques and outcomes;
  6. Breast reconstruction in post-massive weight loss patients;
  7. Updates on BIAI and BIA-ALCL: current recommendations;
  8. Challenges and solutions in breast reconstruction for patients with perioperative radiation therapy;
  9. Mesh or no mesh for implant-based reconstruction;
  10. Breast reconstruction in transgender patients;
  11. The future of breast reconstruction: trends in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

We invite original research articles and reviews on these topics. We look forward to your contributions to this important discourse.

Dr. Dung Nguyen
Dr. Andrea Moreira
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • breast reconstruction
  • microsurgery
  • robot-assisted surgery
  • breast neurotization
  • lymphatic surgery

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 2044 KiB  
Systematic Review
Simultaneous Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer and Breast Reconstruction: A Systematic Review
by Hamzah Almadani, Jocelyn Lu, Sara Bokhari, Christiane How-Volkman and Philip S. Brazio
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(5), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14051694 - 3 Mar 2025
Viewed by 720
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Simultaneous vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) and breast reconstruction is a reconstructive option that potentially addresses two adverse consequences of breast cancer treatment in the same operation. This systematic review aims to analyze the quality of data and outcomes in the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Simultaneous vascularized lymph node transfer (VLNT) and breast reconstruction is a reconstructive option that potentially addresses two adverse consequences of breast cancer treatment in the same operation. This systematic review aims to analyze the quality of data and outcomes in the current literature. Methods: This systematic review was performed following PRISMA guidelines. A systematic search was conducted with Google Scholar and PubMed for studies with the simultaneous intervention of VLNT and breast reconstruction. The search terms were ((diep OR pap OR expander OR implant OR breast OR msTRAM OR TRAM) AND (“vascularized lymph node”)). Studies were included if they were original articles that discussed patients who underwent simultaneous VLNT and breast reconstruction. Additional sources were identified from bibliographies. Patient characteristics, types of treatment, reconstruction, and outcome measures were collected. This review was not registered. Results: A total of 1969 unique English literature search results led to the inclusion of 118 studies. Further analysis was performed on 42 non-review articles, documenting a total of 772 patients. The mean patient age was 51.6 years, the mean BMI was 28, and there was a mean follow-up of 23.8 months. Discrete breast reconstruction data were given for 494 patients with 492 autologous reconstructions and 2 tissue expander-to-implant reconstructions. The most common reconstructive approach was a deep inferior epigastric flap. The most common VLNT donor site was the superficial inferior epigastric nodes, followed by superficial circumflex iliac nodes. Indications for 646 patients were for treatment and 18 were for prevention, while 108 were not specified. The mean excess volume reduction in treatment studies was 39.5%. A total of 168 complications (21.8%) were reported, with donor site seromas being the most common. Additionally, four partial and three total flap failures were reported. Conclusions: VLNT can be safely combined with autologous breast reconstruction for the treatment or prevention of breast cancer-related lymphedema. Future research should standardize the approach for data collection and report patient outcomes for lymphedema and immediate lymphatic reconstruction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Breast Reconstruction: Current Techniques, Advances and Future Directions)
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21 pages, 4885 KiB  
Systematic Review
Managing Asymmetry in Breast Reconstruction After Mastectomy—A Systematic Review and Highlight of Clinical Pearls
by Kelsey Lipman and Dung Nguyen
J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13(23), 7189; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13237189 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1119
Abstract
Background/Objectives: As breast reconstruction techniques continue to progress, patient satisfaction with aesthetic outcomes has become an increasingly important marker of success. Obtaining optimal symmetry often requires secondary procedures whether reconstruction is unilateral or bilateral, implant-based or autologous, immediate or delayed. Consequently, determining the [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: As breast reconstruction techniques continue to progress, patient satisfaction with aesthetic outcomes has become an increasingly important marker of success. Obtaining optimal symmetry often requires secondary procedures whether reconstruction is unilateral or bilateral, implant-based or autologous, immediate or delayed. Consequently, determining the ideal method to achieve symmetry, particularly in challenging scenarios, such as the radiated breast, is nuanced and requires experienced decision-making. Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines, including the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase bibliographic databases, to identify original articles addressing asymmetry in both implant-based and autologous breast reconstruction. Studies based on benign breast disease or oncoplastic reconstruction for partial mastectomy/lumpectomy defects were excluded. Results: The search initially yielded a total of six hundred and fifty unique articles. After complete assessment of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of forty-one articles were included in total. Conclusions: This article provides a systematic review of the current literature available to guide surgeons on managing asymmetry in breast reconstruction and highlights case examples of frequently encountered clinical challenges. A novel treatment algorithm was then generated to serve as a comprehensive decision-making guide for both patients and surgeons. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evolution of Breast Reconstruction: Current Techniques, Advances and Future Directions)
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