Irradiated tissues are generally perceived as impaired by most medical practitioners. The purpose of radiation is to induce chemical changes that affect the anabolic properties of the targeted area and thus suppress tumor growth or alter the environment of a tumor to render it less hospitable to the malignant process. This is achieved by inducing chemical changes such as linkages across protein chains or lytic damage to proteins, rendering the proteins ineffective as genetic material and altering the chemical composition of structural proteins. This destroys the viability of cells and alters the mechanical properties of the surroundings. Irradiation damage affects all kinds of cells but may vary depending on the type and the environment of specific cells. The end result is that irradiated tissue becomes less elastic, more reactive and natural healing and repair processes are delayed or absent for a significant period of time following the exposure. Loss of water in such an environment concurrently affects the mechanical properties. The formation of long lasting chemical entities with residual reactivity following irradiation favors complications if surgery is attempted in an irradiated area.

Cancer treatment followed by breast prosthesis insertion impart a special vulnerability of patients. This is generally known to radiotherapy professionals and surgeons with experience on irradiated patients. Surgery in irradiated areas entails supplemental risks. The implantation of large prosthetic devices, such as breast implants and tissue expanders, has supplemental problems primarily because such devices force the surrounding tissue to expand and stretch. If there is shrinkage, contracture or reduced compliance of the surrounding tissue, the probability of wound dehiscence, suture tearing through tissue and poor healing result. The presence of residual reactive entities created by the irradiation process induces more inflammatory activity. The abnormal condition may last for several years.

There is a strong and obvious basis to contraindicate the use of large prostheses and rapid expansion of tissue expanders in patients with irradiated implant sites. Post-surgical inflammation, concurrent use of chemotherapy drugs including antimetabolites, militate towards slow healing wound dehiscence and open tracts with fluid leakage. These peculiarities demand closer and longer follow up and may entail supplemental surgical procedures. Such patients habitually fall into special categories and may require treatments that are not available from average health care facilities. Individuals with additional radiotherapy following the implantation of prostheses, in particular devices with oily filling substances such as gel/oil mixtures, present additional problems which may affect both the implant site and the device.