Maximizing aesthetic outcome in autologous breast reconstruction with implants and lipofilling

Aesthetic Evaluation of Breast Reconstruction with Autologous Fat Transfer vs. Implants

Background

Autologous fat transfer (AFT) seems to be a new minimal invasive method for total breast reconstruction, yet how patients, surgeons, and laymen evaluate cosmesis is lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aesthetic outcome of AFT (intervention group) for total breast reconstruction post-mastectomy, as compared to implant-based reconstruction (IBR) (control group).

Methods

A random and blinded 3D photographic aesthetic outcome study was performed on a selection of 50 patients, scored by three panels: plastic surgeons, breast cancer patients, and laymen. Secondary outcomes included agreement within groups and possible patient characteristics influencing scoring.

Results

Breast cancer patients and plastic surgeons did not differ in the aesthetic scores between the treatment groups. In contrast, the laymen group scored AFT patients lower than IBR patients (− 1.04, p < 0.001). Remarkably, mean given scores were low for all groups and overall agreement within groups was poor (ICC < 0.50). Higher scores were given when subjects underwent a bilateral reconstruction and if a mamilla was present.

Conclusion

Evaluation of aesthetic outcomes varies greatly. Hence, aesthetic outcome remains a very personal measure and this emphasizes the importance of thorough patient counseling including information on achievable aesthetic results before starting a reconstructive procedure.

Level of Evidence III

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 .

Safety of Routine Pedicle Division during Delayed Breast Augmentation following Free Flap Breast Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Autologous free flap breast reconstruction is a common reconstructive procedure, with the ability to produce a natural breast shape and a long history of success. Despite its benefits, there are special situations in which patients lack sufficient donor-site tissue to achieve adequate breast size and projection. With this study, the authors describe their institutional experience of delayed implant augmentation after autologous breast reconstruction with a particular focus on pedicle division as a technique to improve aesthetic results.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of patients that underwent free flap autologous breast reconstruction with delayed implant augmentation was conducted over a 13-year period. Flaps were divided into a control group without pedicle division and a divided pedicle group. Groups were compared in terms of demographics, clinical and surgical characteristics, implant details, and postoperative implant and flap complications.

RESULTS

No significant differences in terms of age, body mass index, comorbidities, radiation therapy, or surgical indications were noted. The most common reason for delayed implant augmentation after autologous breast reconstruction was change in breast size and breast asymmetry. In terms of implant and flap complications, we found no significant differences between the control and divided pedicle groups after delayed implant augmentation.

CONCLUSIONS

From the authors' institutional experience, pedicle division in delayed breast augmentation with implants after free flap breast reconstruction can be safety performed in selected cases. This technique can be a powerful tool for plastic surgeons to improve the final aesthetic appearance of the reconstructed breast.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, III.

Better clinical outcome for autologous fat transplant combined with silicone gel prosthesis for breast augmentation: Evidence from meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the combination of autologous fat transplantation and silicone gel prosthesis implantation for breast augmentation surgery.

METHODS

With "autologous fat", "silicone prosthesis", "combined with", "combination", "breast augmentation" and "clinical effect" as search keywords, a thorough literature search was performed throughout the Chinese databases (CBMdisc, Wanfang, CNKI and Chongqing VIP) and English databases (PUBMED and EMBASE) and after cross-referencing and reading, literature conforming with the inclusion and exclusion criteria were analyzed and significant data related to autologous fat transplantation combined with silicone prosthesis in breast augmentation surgery was collected and meta-analyzed.

RESULTS

21 full-text articles were included into the meta-analysis study: Autologous fat transplantation combined with silicone gel prosthesis implantation not only enhancedthe long-term postoperative breast shape recovery, but also fundamentally managed the underlying drawbacks of using autologous fat graft transplantation or prosthesis alone, decreasing the rate of procedure related morbidity and complications.

CONCLUSION

The application of the combination of autologous fat transplantation with silicone gel prosthesis implantation in breast augmentation surgery has shown good and stable clinical outcome while simultaneously reducing the rate of complication related to the application of either method alone. Hence, this combination is worth exploration and promotion since it offers better manageable clinical outcome at low risk of complication.