Bridging the Information Gap: Supporting Patients Through Breast Surgery
The team at Plexāā is proud to announce that our research exploring breast surgery patient perspectives on preparedness and information gaps was selected by the scientific committee for presentation at the London Breast Meeting (3–5 September 2025). This prestigious, internationally attended conference provided a valuable platform to share our findings and contribute to advancing patient-centered care in breast surgery.
A summary of our work can be found in this article below.
The Importance of Preparation
The team at Plexāā are passionate about supporting patients in preparing for surgery.
Understanding what to expect and feeling well-prepared can make the patient journey smoother and improve recovery.
However, our surgeons have observed that patients often struggle to find clear, easily accessible information in one place on how to prepare themselves mentally, physically and practically for the challenges of undergoing breast surgery.
What Patients Told Us
We surveyed 141 patients from all over the world, who were at different stages of their breast surgery journey. The results showed that:
The majority of patients felt both physically (61%) and mentally (71%) underprepared for surgery.
Approximately two-thirds reported feeling underprepared to optimize their recovery, and over one-third were even unsure about the details of their operation.
About half said that they didn’t always have enough information to confidently speak up for themselves, and a similar number also felt that their friends and family did not have sufficient information to provide the best support.
These gaps can lead to feelings of isolation and uncertainty. 69% of the patients who responded reported feeling isolated during their surgical journey.
The Role of Digital Support
This study highlighted that while breast surgery is common, many people who have it still feel unprepared and unsupported. Digital tools, like a smartphone app, have the potential to fill this gap by giving patients and their loved ones the right information at the right time.
Every patient who took part in the survey expressed interest in a dedicated smartphone app to guide them through breast surgery.
Moving Forward
We set out to create a smartphone application designed to serve as a trusted companion for patients preparing for, and recovering from, breast surgery.
The aim was to:
Help patients feel prepared, confident and empowered through granting access to reliable, comprehensive, easy-to-understand information for every aspect of their surgical journey. This is available in various formats, including articles, videos and a dedicated Prehab™ (preparation) and Rehab (recovery) program.
Offer features for practical support, such as a symptom tracker, an area for secure uploads, appointment diary, and preparation checklists.
Provide guidance for family and friends to provide effective support, and also create a community for app users to support each other.
Better preparation and support can reduce anxiety, improve recovery, and make the breast surgery journey less overwhelming. Patients are ready and willing to use a dedicated smartphone app, and this opens the door to new ways of providing care beyond the clinic walls.
About Plexāā
Plexāā is a pioneering UK MedTech company focused on improving surgical outcomes through innovative solutions. Their flagship device, BLOOM⁴³ enables patients to supraphysiologically precondition their skin, potentially reducing the risk of wound healing complications such as infection and skin necrosis, which affect 1 in 3 women undergoing breast surgery.
BLOOM⁴³ is the world’s first fully wearable device worn next to the skin before breast surgery. By gently warming the area to stimulate the release of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs). These naturally occurring proteins cause the release of carbon monoxide into the tissue which vasodilates the blood vessels and improves the blood flow to the skin. This improved blood flow primes the skin to heal and has been shown to prevent wound healing complications in proof-of-concept clinical trials.
Plexāā is also exploring the application of this technology in other surgical fields, including obstetrics for C-sections, orthopedics for joint operations, and general and vascular surgery, with a commitment to improving pre-operative preparation for surgery and patient outcomes.
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