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Hammond et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2024;11:28 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2024.27
Aesthetic Research

Technical Note Open Access

Robotic approaches to breast reconstruction

1
1
Jacob B. Hammond , Katie G. Egan , Jesse C. Selber 2
1
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Aurora,
CO 80045, USA.
2
Department of Plastic Surgery, Corewell Health, Grand Rapids, MI 49506, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Katie G. Egan MD, Department of Surgery Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery University of
Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, 12631 East 17th Avenue Aurora, CO 80045, USA.E-mail: katie.egan@cuanschutz.edu
How to cite this article: Hammond JB, Egan KG, Selber JC. Robotic approaches to breast reconstruction. Plast Aesthet Res
2024;11:28. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2347-9264.2024.27

Received: 23 Feb 2024 First Decision: 17 Jun 2024 Revised: 24 Jun 2024 Accepted: 4 July 2024 Published: 10 Jul 2024

Academic Editors: Christoph Andree, Pietro Gentile Copy Editor: Yanbin Bai Production Editor: Yanbin Bai

Abstract
The purpose of this manuscript is to fully characterize modern approaches to robotic breast reconstruction. The
authors review and describe preoperative planning, operative anatomy & techniques, and clinical outcomes
regarding robotic breast reconstruction. In the modern era of robotic surgery, many of the beneficial outcomes in
other surgical specialties also apply to breast reconstruction. When comparing outcomes between traditional and
robotic latissimus flap reconstruction, a robotic approach is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay, lower
postoperative opioid requirements, and higher patient satisfaction. For robotic DIEP flap reconstruction, outcomes
from several studies also report favorable results with no flap losses, intraabdominal complications, or
postoperative hernia/bulge. Although barriers exist regarding this technology, robotic latissimus and DIEP flap
reconstruction can be safely learned and applied with thoughtful patient selection and preoperative planning.
Robotic breast reconstruction facilitates a minimally invasive approach that decreases donor-site morbidity, length
of stay, and opioid requirements, and even improves patient satisfaction.
Keywords: Robotic surgical procedures, breast reconstruction, microsurgery

INTRODUCTION
Originally funded by NASA and the United States military for the application of remote operations, robotic
[1]
surgery was first brought to the forefront of modern healthcare by urologists for use in prostate surgery .

© The Author(s) 2024. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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