Direct to Implant versus 2-Stage Expander Implant Immediate Breast Reconstruction: Comparison of Incidence and Predictors of Complications

Purpose: The most important discussion about the direct-to-implant (DTI) reconstruction is the risk of ischemic problems. Therefore, there is an ongoing debate about the effectiveness and reliability of DTI reconstruction. The current study aimed to compare the outcomes of patients undergoing DTI and expander implant (EI) reconstruction and to determine the factors that may affect the occurrence of complications. Methods: Sixty patients who underwent immediate implant reconstruction over a two-year period were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, operative characteristics and postoperative complications of the patients were retrieved retrospectively from patient records. Results: Reconstruction was performed on 34 and 27 breasts in the DTI and EI groups, respectively. The mean follow-up period of the patients was 13.8 months (range 6–28 months). Although the postoperative complication rates were high in the DTI group, no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (p = 0.585). No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of implant failure (p = 0.579). Implant volumes of patients with complications in the DTI group were significantly higher than those without complications (p = 0.049). Conclusion: While DTI was similar to EI reconstruction in terms of implant failure, overall complication rates were higher than those in EI reconstruction. The volume of the implant is a factor that affects the development of complications in DTI reconstruction. DTI reconstruction is a reliable method that can achieve similar results to EI reconstruction with fewer surgical procedures in suitably selected patients.