Artificial Intelligence-predicted Outcomes of Breast Reconstruction: Progress, Pitfalls, and Path Forward.

BACKGROUND

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being applied across medical disciplines to enhance clinical decision-making. However, its use in plastic and reconstructive surgery remains early in development. This review consolidates existing literature to evaluate how AI is specifically being implemented to predict breast reconstruction (BR) outcomes, identify current limitations, and outline priorities for clinical translation.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using PubMed and Scopus databases to identify studies published between 2015 and 2025 that applied AI or machine learning to predict outcomes after BR. Eligible studies were categorized into surgical, aesthetic, and patient-reported outcomes domains and synthesized using a conceptual framework of "progress, pitfalls, and path forward."

RESULTS

Of 442 studies identified, 25 met the inclusion criteria. Ten studies demonstrated progress in applying AI to predict complications, donor-site morbidity, tissue-expander loss, and patient-reported satisfaction. Three studies highlighted key pitfalls, including limited generalizability due to small, single-center datasets and technical barriers to clinical implementation. Twelve studies focused on future directions, including the prediction of postoperative complications, perfusion-related events, tissue expansion dynamics, and automated aesthetic assessment. Collectively, these findings suggest that AI can model complex, nonlinear relationships among patient, procedural, and aesthetic variables in BR.

CONCLUSIONS

AI applications in BR are evolving from proof-of-concept toward clinical relevance. Broader validation using multicenter datasets and standardized methodologies will be essential. Collaboration between surgeons and AI engineers will be critical to develop robust, generalizable tools that enhance preoperative planning, intraoperative decision-making, and postoperative outcomes.