Physical and psychological effects of immediate and delayed breast reconstruction techniques on the daily life of post-mastectomy patients

Abstract

Breast cancer represents a major public health issue due to the increasing incidence worldwide and in the region. Breast reconstruction is a surgical alternative for women who have undergone a mastectomy since this procedure has both physical and psychological implications in patients’ daily lives. This review explores the different breast reconstruction techniques, and the effects associated with each, identifying key differences in aspects such as chronic pain, mobility, sexuality, functionality and emotional and psychological well-being. The main objective of this review is to analyze and compare the physical and psychological effects of immediate and delayed breast reconstruction techniques in order to provide scientific evidence that enables health professionals to offer comprehensive care. A search was conducted in the PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar, and Hinari databases. Forty-six articles meeting the selection criteria were included: full-text publications with available references, peer-reviewed articles in Spanish or English published between 2020 and 2025, using the search terms breast cancer, breast reconstruction, psychological effects, mastectomy, quality of life, and mental health, combined with the Boolean operator “psychological impact” OR “physical effects.”

In conclusion, both immediate and delayed breast reconstruction offer similar benefits at different stages of patient treatment depending on their condition. This procedure is considered a fundamental part of post-mastectomy patient management, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach and inclusive health policies that allow equal opportunities for patients.