Psychological Effects of Implant Loss

Psychological Effects of Implant Loss

Previous quality of life studies have suggested that long term satisfaction with breast reconstruction may be affected by postoperative complications. Complication frequencies, especially the risk for implant loss, is considerably higher in immediate than in delayed breast reconstruction. Knowledge about how implant loss affects the patient's experience of her breast reconstruction can guide us in the choice between immediate and delayed breast reconstruction in high risk patients and help us better prepare the patients for possible complications. This study will investigate patients' experiences with losing an implant in connection with immediate breast reconstruction.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Biological women
• Age >18 years
• Have lost an implant after a mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to give informed consent
• inability to speak and understand Swedish
• relapse of breast cancer after the reconstruction
• metastatic disease
• psychiatric co-morbidity.