Implications of Mobile Applications for Breast Surgery: A Systematic Review
The team at Plexāā is proud to announce that our latest research, examining the evidence for mobile apps across the breast surgery pathway, has been published in Clinical Breast Cancer. The review was co-authored by Dr Saahil Mehta MD FRCS(Plast), Dr Hadyn K.N. Kankam MA (Cantab.) MB BChir MRes MRCS and Dr Tooba Arif MBChB MSc MRCS, alongside colleagues from Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, and West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
A summary of our work can be found in this article below.
Why we did this review
Breast surgery involves a long patient journey, from preoperative counseling through to postoperative rehabilitation, with high information needs and recovery that can be difficult to monitor after discharge. Mobile apps have increasingly been developed to support patients through this journey, but how well they actually work has been unclear, until now.
This PRISMA-compliant systematic review set out to examine mobile apps designed to support patients at every stage of breast surgery care.
What we did
The team searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to June 2026 for studies of mobile apps used at any point in the breast surgery pathway, with no restrictions on procedure type, comparator, or outcome. A narrative synthesis was undertaken.
The primary search returned 6,999 records, with 20 studies meeting the inclusion criteria after screening.
What we found
The review identified apps serving five distinct purposes across the pathway: preoperative education, treatment decision support, postoperative symptom management, remote monitoring, and rehabilitation. The strength of evidence varied significantly by purpose:
Remote monitoring apps showed the clearest benefit, reducing in-person visits without increasing complications.
Preoperative education apps consistently reduced anxiety and improved patient satisfaction.
Decision-support apps reduced uncertainty and, in one study, improved body image.
Symptom-management apps gave the least consistent results, working best alongside additional human contact.
Rehabilitation apps remain early-stage, investigated only in small pilots.
What this means
Mobile apps are being developed across the entire breast surgery pathway, and patients are receptive to them, but effectiveness varies considerably by purpose. Remote monitoring has the strongest evidence base, followed by preoperative education, while decision-support, symptom-management, and rehabilitation apps require more definitive trials before patient satisfaction can be equated with genuine clinical benefit.
This is exactly where BLOOM⁴³ has focused: structured preoperative education, remote support through recovery, and a dedicated Prehab™ program, built on evidence, not just engagement. Explore more about the BLOOM⁴³ app.
This review reinforces the importance of building digital tools on a foundation of evidence, not just engagement. As BLOOM⁴³ continues to evolve, we remain committed to generating the kind of rigorous data this field still needs.
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.
