Immediate implant replacement with DIEP flap: a single-stage salvage option in failed implant-based breast reconstruction.

Background: Implant-based immediate breast reconstruction after skin-sparing mastectomy has shown a significant improvement in patients' quality of life, making the procedure steadily more popular year after year. However, this technique has a high morbidity rate, including skin necrosis and implant exposure.

Methods: A retrospective review of a prospectively held database for autologous breast reconstruction in our institution of the last 5 years found eight cases with exposed implants after nipple-sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction.