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Invited Discussion on: “Breast Auto-augmentation (Mastopexy and Lipofilling): An Option for Quitting Breast Implants”

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Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the… Click to show full abstract

Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these evidence-based medicine ratings, please refer to the table of contents or the online instructions to authors www.springer.com/00266. In ‘‘Breast Auto-augmentation (Mastopexy and Lipofilling): An option for quitting breast implants,’’ the authors present a technique for modifying the size and shape of the breast following explantation. They present background on the complication rates with breast implants and use these data to support the fact that more and more women are undergoing explantation. The authors present their experience with 26 patients undergoing implant removal, capsulectomy, mastopexy and lipofilling. Indications for implant removal included personal desire to be implant-free and to have smaller breasts, symptomatic capsular contracture or implant rupture. The average follow-up time was 18 months, and impressively, all 26 patients had a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. The surgical procedure incorporated two previously described and well-accepted techniques in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery: auto-augmentation with tissue rearrangement and lipofilling. Auto-augmentation using an inferior chest wall-based flap has previously been described by the senior author [1], and lipofilling is a variation on the concept of simultaneous implant exchange with fat (SIEF) as described by Del Vecchio [2]. Highlights of the procedure included a modified Wise pattern mastopexy, explantation and capsulectomy, lipofilling directly into the pectoralis major muscle, superior transposition of an inferior dermoglandular flap and finally lipofilling of the subdermal space. The average volume of fat injected per breast was 258 cc. The technique is well described and supported by the illustrated figures and clinical before and after photographs. Other than one patient with an oil cyst, there were no reported complications, and all patients were satisfied as defined by a two-question survey completed one year after surgery. One of the most powerful tools that I have used in my practice is augmenting the upper pole of the breast with tissue from the lower pole (Fig. 1). Much of what I have learned regarding this procedure has come from the senior author, and for that, I am quite grateful. Due to the fact that the inferior chest wall-based flap relies on anterior perforators from the lower chest wall, I have never used this flap in patients with previously dissected implant pockets. My understanding is that all (or a majority) of perforators supplying the flap would be disrupted from the pocket dissection. The risk of this may be augmented further in the presence of a previous inframammary fold incision. The author’s success of no cases of fat necrosis in the 26 patients is impressive; however, the reader should be cautioned that necrosis of the inferior flap is a real risk and may significantly impact the result, if it should occur. My experience in managing revision breast implant patients is that many of these women have minimal glandular tissue, especially in the lower pole. Of course, there are exceptions, but this reality will limit the number of patients who are candidates for, or who will adequately benefit from transposition of lower pole tissue. It should also be noted that the majority of fat grafting was & Mitchell Brown [email protected]

Keywords: mastopexy lipofilling; breast implants; auto augmentation; breast

Journal Title: Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
Year Published: 2019

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