Patient experience of implant loss after immediate breast reconstruction: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is an integral part of modern breast cancer treatment. Our aim was to investigate patient experience with implant loss after IBR by using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). We conducted semi-structured interviews with eight informants. We analyzed data according to the IPA flexible seven-stage process and four main themes were developed: immediate breast reconstruction as the indisputable choice, a difficult experience, an altered body: redefining normality, and trying to cope. The experience of implant loss appears to affect women for many years and might overshadow some of the benefits of IBR.