Aesthetic Outcome of Breast Implant Removal in 85 Consecutive Patients

[The Emerging Interest in Breast Implant Illness and its impact on Patient Behavior]

Breast implant illness (BII) is a loosely defined term for a collection of non-specific systemic symptoms that are hypothesised to be associated with breast implants. BII symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, rashes, chronic pain, and others. However, conclusive evidence for a causal relationship between silicone implants and BII remains lacking. In the light of recent findings that textured implants can, in rare cases, lead to breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), a potential link between breast implants and BII is conceivable and justifies further investigation. We observe a growing number of patients seeking consultation and treatment for systemic symptoms related to breast implants, which is reflected in increasing interest in literature and social media. The aim of this work was to investigate the growing interest in BII. We now describe the clinical features of a patient who suffers from symptoms that are consistent with BII and contextualise clinical presentation in a review of literature and google trend analysis.

Revision Breast Augmentation

Breast augmentation is consistently one of the most commonly performed aesthetic operations every year. Unfortunately, revision rates following primary augmentation remain as high as 36%. There are several causes for revision breast augmentation; however, the most common and challenging of these include capsular contracture, implant malposition, and ptosis of the aging breast following augmentation. Successful management of these problems requires knowledge on how to best treat the implant and capsule with the corresponding soft tissue simultaneously. While surgical management is important, understanding the pathological causes of these entities during the primary operation can reduce the need for revision. This article utilizes the most up-to-date literature to review the appropriate clinical evaluation and surgical management of these complex cases.

An Algorithm for the Management of Explantation Surgery

Creating pleasing breast aesthetics after an explantation can be challenging, especially when performed with a total capsulectomy. The necessity of a capsulectomy for a variety of breast issues is not completely agreed on and can increase adverse events, patient morbidity, and cost of the operation and often impairs the final aesthetic result. In this article, an algorithm for the management of explantation patients provides a framework for treatment of the capsule and the breast to optimize outcomes.

Adjunctive Procedures and Informed Consent with Breast Implant Explantation

BACKGROUND

The use of injectable or implantable materials or devices in the breast for augmentation or reconstruction has a history of innovation and controversy. Staying current in the field of breast implant management today means understanding not just the published literature but also its absence. Cutting edge breast implant treatment also means awareness of patient and media-driven interests and requests.

METHODS

Adjuvant treatments to optimize physical and psychological well-being with breast implant explantation, without replacement, will be addressed through literature review and analysis.

RESULTS

The body of literature demonstrates evidence of variable, and sometimes contradictory, methods to address adjunctive management of systemic concerns, the capsule, soft tissue of the native breast/chest, and treatment timing related to explantation. Few approaches are supported by very strong evidence. Many treatment methodologies are defensible. Any current attempts at optimizing management in patients undergoing explantation will be somewhat impaired by the ongoing nebulousness of related issues, such as breast implant illness. It seems clear, therefore, that plastic surgeons must fulfill their duty as caregivers to provide explantation surgery, either to attempt to improve physical health, mental well-being, or simply to respect patients' wishes. A well-informed surgeon will likely employ a variety of approaches, adapted to the unique patient presentations at hand.

CONCLUSION

It is expected that consultations, incisions, tissue rearrangements, surgical timing, and treatment indications will continue to vary as scientific investigation strives to understand and to optimize treatment of patients experiencing difficulty with breast implants.

Not All Breast Explants Are Equal: Contemporary Strategies in Breast Explantation Surgery

SUMMARY

Breast implant removal and replacement has been a common secondary breast procedure in the long-term maintenance of breast augmentation, but more recently growing concerns about silicone-related systemic illness, breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), and changing perceptions of aesthetic beauty have seen breast implant removal without replacement become increasingly requested by patients. Explantation can be challenging, especially when performed with a total capsulectomy. Currently, there is no evidence regarding whether a partial or total capsulectomy has any effect on BIA-ALCL risk mitigation in patients that have textured implants without disease. Total capsulectomy with incomplete resection of a mass can contribute to hyperprogression of BIA-ALCL and death. There have also been cases of BIA-ALCL diagnosed years after removal of the textured device and "total capsulectomy." Therefore, the common practice of simple prophylactic capsulectomy in a textured implant to mitigate future disease has not been established and at the current time should be discouraged. In addition, aesthetic outcomes can be quite variable, and patients should have appropriate preoperative counseling regarding the indications and contraindications for explantation, associated risks, financial implications, and postoperative appearance. The authors review salient aspects related to the planning and management of breast implant removal.

Rotation mastopexy: an anatomical approach

The goal of a mastopexy is to restore the shape and volume of the breast after ptosis of the breast. Ptosis occurs commonly in response to aging and breastfeeding. A low nipple position on the breast mound can be corrected by addressing the skin envelope, but maintenance of upper pole fullness and a youthful shape of the breast is the challenge to surgeons. To address this, techniques using local glandular flaps and implants have been suggested. A new technique has been created with regard to a detailed knowledge of the breast gland's vascular anatomy. The lower breast gland is raised as a large vascularized flap and rotated into a pocket beneath the upper pole. The operative procedure is presented together with the experience of the first author with a consecutive series of 25 patients.

Objective assessment of aesthetic outcomes of breast cancer treatment: measuring ptosis from clinical photographs

The aesthetic outcome of breast cancer treatment is an important factor in breast cancer survivors' quality of life. We investigated new quantitative, objective measurements of breast ptosis based on ratios of distances between fiducial points manually identified in oblique and lateral clinical photographs. Ptosis refers to the extent to which the nipple is lower than the inframammary fold. The new objective measures were compared to ratings made using an existing subjective scale. The variability in the objective measurements due to intra- and inter-observer variability in marking fiducial points was shown to be equivalent to less than one point on the subjective ptosis scale.