Immediate Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction in Suboptimal Patients Using an Air-filled Spacer

Immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction offers excellent aesthetic results with less pain and elimination of animation deformity due to avoidance of pectoralis dissection and subpectoral implant placement. Concerns about the effects of prostheses on flap perfusion have limited use of the technique to highly selected patients. We present a series of “suboptimal” patients that have undergone immediate prepectoral breast reconstruction utilizing an air-filled “spacer” implant. METHODS: A single surgeon’s experience with immediate, single-stage prepectoral breast reconstruction using a Spectrum implant was retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics, adjuvant therapies, risk factors for threatened flaps, and complications, including those that required subsequent intervention, were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients (39 breasts) underwent immediate prepectoral reconstruction with a Spectrum implant. Ten patients had minor complications, 6 of whom required intervention with successful correction. There was a single case of implant loss in the series; this patient had prior radiation. CONCLUSIONS: Utilizing the spacer concept, immediate single-stage prepectoral breast reconstruction is a viable alternative to subpectoral implant placement or delay procedures. The technique delivers aesthetic results with less postoperative pain, quicker operative times, and avoidance of animation deformity. It can be considered for any patient, including high-risk patients such as those with radiation exposure, thin/threatened skin flaps, significant ptosis, and obesity.