Fundamentals of Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction

The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 230,000 American women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2011. Many of these individuals will require mastectomy and total reconstruction of the breast. Implant-based breast reconstruction currently represents the most prevalent form of breast. In the last year breast reconstruction has changed in a fact that mimic more to a natural breast. This is not only for the advance of new material and techniques, this is also for the new knowledge of different types of mastectomies that nowadays preserve more skin and different anatomic landmarks of the breast, that will help us for a more natural breast reconstruction. This chapter will attempt to provide a concise overview of implant-based breast reconstruction, defining its indications, advantages, limitations, and complications associated with this type.