Editor’s Note: The 11th Qingdao Breast Disease Conference and the 9th “Langya Forum” were recently held in the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao. The event brought together leading experts and emerging talents in breast oncology from across China and beyond to share cutting-edge research, discuss innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, and chart the future of breast disease management. 

At the conference, Professor Jian Yin from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital delivered a keynote lecture titled “Management of Complications Following Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction.” Drawing on extensive clinical experience, Professor Yin provided an in-depth analysis of complication prevention and management strategies, while exploring new approaches to optimize reconstructive outcomes.

Following his presentation, Oncology Frontier invited Professor Yin to discuss the rationale behind establishing a specialized post-reconstruction revision clinic, advances in complication management, individualized surgical strategies, and the critical role of multidisciplinary collaboration in improving patient outcomes.

01 Oncology Frontier: In your presentation, you discussed the management of complications following implant-based breast reconstruction and mentioned that your department has recently established a dedicated post-reconstruction revision clinic. Could you elaborate on the motivation behind setting up this clinic?

Professor Jian Yin: With the continuous advancement of comprehensive breast cancer treatment, survival is no longer the sole focus—we now place greater emphasis on improving patients’ quality of life. The number of women choosing breast reconstruction has steadily increased. However, differences in surgical expertise among clinicians have led to a range of postoperative complications, such as infection, skin flap necrosis, and capsular contracture.Even in the absence of implant exposure, some patients are dissatisfied with aesthetic results, which can cause secondary psychological distress. To address these issues, our department was among the first in China to establish a dedicated post-reconstruction revision clinic. The clinic provides tailored surgical interventions to help patients achieve improved breast symmetry and more natural, aesthetically pleasing results.

02 Oncology Frontier: What are the most common complications following implant-based breast reconstruction? Have there been any new advances or concepts in prevention and management in recent years?

Professor Jian Yin: The most common postoperative complications include infection, skin necrosis, and implant exposure. Once implant exposure occurs, removal of the implant is often necessary—signifying reconstruction failure. Another frequent issue is capsular contracture. Normally, the body forms a soft capsule around the implant, but in some patients, this capsule thickens and tightens, leading to firmness, distortion, and even chest wall pain.In terms of prevention and management, we emphasize individualized treatment strategies. When infection occurs, prompt and effective anti-infective therapy is essential. Skin necrosis or wound dehiscence often indicates potential implant exposure, which may necessitate implant removal. Therefore, we advocate early surgical intervention, such as debridement and resuturing, to minimize the risk of reconstruction failure and optimize surgical outcomes.

03 Oncology Frontier: For breast cancer patients at different stages or undergoing different surgical procedures, how do you individualize implant selection and determine the timing of reconstruction? How do you balance oncologic safety with aesthetic outcomes?

Professor Jian Yin: In all breast surgeries—whether breast-conserving or reconstructive—oncologic safety always comes first. When planning reconstruction, timing must be carefully considered. For early-stage breast cancer, we generally recommend immediate reconstruction. For those with locally advanced disease, reconstruction timing depends on the response to neoadjuvant therapy—some patients may still undergo immediate reconstruction, while others are better suited for delayed procedures.In terms of reconstruction methods, the two main options are implant-based reconstruction and autologous tissue reconstruction. While implant-based reconstruction is the most common approach for immediate cases, it is not suitable for all patients—particularly those requiring postoperative radiotherapy. For these patients, autologous flap reconstruction is often a better choice, as it provides more durable aesthetic results with fewer radiation-related complications.

04 Oncology Frontier: In managing complications such as capsular contracture, infection, or implant displacement, what role does multidisciplinary collaboration (MDT) play? Could you share examples from your team’s clinical experience?

Professor Jian Yin: When complications arise, they are primarily managed by surgeons through interventions such as infection control, debridement, and wound repair. To achieve optimal outcomes, breast surgeons must also understand the fundamental principles of plastic and reconstructive surgery—integrating oncologic safety with aesthetic refinement.Nevertheless, we emphasize that prevention is always better than correction. Even the most successful postoperative management remains a form of damage control. Prevention requires close multidisciplinary collaboration, particularly between breast surgeons and radiation oncologists, to minimize the negative impact of radiotherapy on reconstructed breasts. This cross-disciplinary cooperation is essential and will continue to be a key area of our future research and clinical practice.

About the Expert

Professor Jian Yin Director, Department of Breast ReconstructionTianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital Doctoral Supervisor