Study: Obesity a Risk Factor For Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Women who smoke or are obese may have an increased risk of complications following breast reconstruction surgery, according to researchers at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.

Researchers analyzed risk factors linked with complications in 224 women who had transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (TRAM) flap breast reconstruction over a 10-year period, according to the study presented at the 70th annual scientific meeting of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in Orlando, Florida.

Fifteen percent of the women in the study were obese and 38 percent were overweight. Fifteen and a half percent of the women were current smokers and 17.5 percent were former smokers.

Researchers found that obesity was a significant risk factor for complications, delaying wound healing and causing death of tissue (necrosis). Being overweight did not appear to be a significant risk for complications.

Investigators also found that active smoking significantly increased the risk of complications, including infection and delayed wound healing. There was also an increased risk of complications and wound healing in women who were former smokers, defined as not having smoked for at least 4 weeks.

Researchers suggest that physicians assist patients in reducing their risk factors by counseling them to quit smoking and lose weight before undergoing breast reconstruction surgery.

Other Sources: Georgetown University