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Shen et al. Art Int Surg. 2025;5:150-9 Artificial
DOI: 10.20517/ais.2024.71
Intelligence Surgery

Review Open Access

Artificial intelligence in breast reconstruction

1,4
Yizhuo Shen 1,2,# , Andrew J. Malek 1,3,# , Renee Gao , Justin M. Broyles 1
1
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
2
Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
3
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
4
University of Massachusetts, Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
#
Authors contributed equally.
Correspondence to: Dr. Justin M. Broyles, MD, MPH, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Brigham and Women's
Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, 75 Francis St., Boston, MA 02115, USA. E-mail: jbroyles@bwh.harvard.edu
How to cite this article: Shen Y, Malek AJ, Gao R, Broyles JM. Artificial intelligence in breast reconstruction. Art Int Surg.
2025;5:150-9. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/ais.2024.71

Received: 30 Aug 2024 First Decision: 22 Oct 2024 Revised: 4 Nov 2024 Accepted: 2 Dec 2024 Published: 10 Mar 2025
Academic Editor: Andrew Gumbs Copy Editor: Ping Zhang Production Editor: Ping Zhang

Abstract
Breast reconstruction is a critical component of breast cancer treatment. With the rapid integration of Artificial
Intelligence (AI) into healthcare, its potential to revolutionize breast reconstruction has become increasingly
evident. This narrative review examines the latest AI developments across the preoperative, intraoperative, and
postoperative phases of breast reconstruction. In preoperative consultations, AI and augmented reality (AR)-driven
simulations help both the surgeons and the patients visualize reconstruction outcomes. Imaging analysis and
predictive modeling enhance the precision and efficiency of autologous procedures such as deep inferior epigastric
artery perforator flap-based reconstruction. Within the operating room, AI applications such as real-time
perforator mapping and AR modeling offer plastic surgeons improved control and visualization, which helps to
reduce postoperative complications. Furthermore, AI models help surgeons design and deliver more personalized
and value-based postoperative care, thereby improving patient satisfaction and overall cost-effectiveness. While AI
applications demonstrate promising utility, challenges such as high costs, reliability, and the need for extensive
clinical validation remain. Ongoing research and large-scale clinical trials are crucial to fully harness AI’s potential
in improving breast reconstruction outcomes.

Keywords: Breast reconstruction, plastic surgery, artificial intelligence, augmented reality

© The Author(s) 2025. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, sharing,
adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, for any purpose, even commercially, as
long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and
indicate if changes were made.

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