https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/20/well/one-in-thr...

One in Three Women Undergoing Breast Reconstruction Have Complications

One in five requires more surgery, and in 5 percent of cases, reconstruction fails.

By Roni Caryn Rabin

June 20, 2018

Women who opt for breast reconstruction after a mastectomy have a strikingly high rate of complications, according to a new report. One in three develop a postoperative complication over the next two years, and one in five requires more surgery. In 5 percent of cases, reconstruction fails.

Those who used their own body tissue to rebuild a breast had significantly higher rates of complications than those who used artificial implants, the study found.

The women who used tissue transplanted from the belly area also had weaker abdominal muscles that made simple activities like getting out of bed difficult. But they were more satisfied with their breasts at the end of the process and enjoyed a greater degree of sexual well-being than women with implants.

"They key takeaway from this research is that these are complicated decisions," said Dr. Edwin Wilkins, a professor and researcher at Michigan Medicine and an author on both of the studies, published on Wednesday in JAMA Surgery. "These operations are not without risk."

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