Shaping the breast in aesthetic and reconstructive breast surgery: an easy three-step principle. Part III--reconstruction following breast conservative treatment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009;124:28-38. [PMID: 19568041 DOI: 10.1097/prs.0b013e3181ac7608]

[Effect of free deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap transplantation in breast shaping of two-staged breast reconstruction with vertical scar]

Objective

To summarize the difficulties and key points of free deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap (DIEP) transplantation in breast shaping of two-staged breast reconstruction with vertical scar.

Methods

The clinical data of 32 postoperative breast cancer patients after mastectomy who underwent free DIEP transplantation for breast reconstruction between October 2015 and October 2019, whose original surgical incisions were all vertical and longitudinal, were retrospectively analysed. All the patients were female, aged from 31 to 42 years, with an average of 34.6 years. The disease duration of breast cancer ranged from 9 to 48 months (mean, 22.8 months). Free DIEP pedicled with contralateral vessels were used in all cases, and the recipient vessels were intrathoracic vessels. Among them, 17 flaps were placed longitudinally, 15 flaps were placed obliquely; Z-shaped flaps were used in 18 cases to adjust the chest wall skin contracture, and contralateral breast reduction and mastopexy were accomplished at the same time in 23 cases.

Results

All DIEP survived completely, and all donor and recipient sites healed by first intention. Internal thoracic lymph node metastasis was found in 1 case and treated with radiotherapy. All 32 cases were followed up 9-48 months, with an average of 19.4 months. The appearance and texture of all flaps were satisfactory, and only linear scar was left in donor site. Eleven patients underwent further autologous fat transplantation and nipple reconstruction. All patients had no effect on abdominal wall activity, and no local recurrence and metastasis was found.

Conclusion

It is difficult to use free DIEP for two-staged breast reconstruction in patients received mastectomy with vertical longitudinal scar left. Combined with different breast shaping techniques, the outcomes can significantly improve.

How to Maximize Aesthetics in Autologous Breast Reconstruction

With continuous technical and functional advances in the field of breast reconstruction, there is now a greater focus on the artistry and aesthetic aspects of autologous reconstruction. Whereas once surgeons were most concerned with flap survival and vessel patency, they are now dedicated to reconstructing a similarly or even more aesthetically pleasing breast than before tumor resection. We discuss the approach to shaping the breast through the footprint, conus, and skin envelope. We then discuss how donor site aesthetics can be optimized through flap design, scar management, and umbilical positioning. Each patient has a different perception of their ideal breast appearance, and through conversation and counseling, realistic goals can be set to reach optimal aesthetic outcomes in breast reconstruction.

An Aesthetic Factor Priority List of the Female Breast in Scandinavian Subjects

There is little consensus about the relative determinative value of each individual factor in female breast aesthetics. When performing breast surgery with an aesthetic goal, certain factors will be more important than others. The purpose of this study was to make an aesthetic factor rank list to determine the relative contributions to overall breast aesthetics.

The Modified Lateral Intercostal Artery Perforator Flap

Background

The main surgical options for treatment of breast cancer are breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy. BCS aims to achieve complete excision of the tumor while achieving a pleasing cosmetic result. Excision of tumors in the lateral aspect of the breast has been associated with issues such as contour deformities and asymmetry. Development of volume replacement techniques such as the lateral intercostal artery perforator flap (LICAP) aimed to address these issues. Our modification of the traditional LICAP offers a less visible scar, good access to the axilla, and no need to reposition the patient.

Methods

All patients undergoing a modified LICAP were identified from our database. The lateral intercostal artery perforators were marked with ultrasound and 2 "lazy S" lines were drawn to mark the flap. The wide local excision (with or without axillary surgery) was performed and the flap mobilized to fill the defect.

Results

Twenty-two patients underwent modified LICAP in 14 months. The mean specimen weight was 86 g. Four patients (18%) had a re-excision for positive margins. Nineteen patients had axillary surgery performed at the time of their modified LICAP flap. No patients had a scar that extended posterior to the posterior axillary line; no patients required a separate incision for axillary surgery; and no patients needed to be repositioned intraoperatively.

Conclusions

Our early experience with this innovative procedure has been favorable. The perioperative complication rate is low. Due to the relatively short follow-up, longer term outcomes such as postradiotherapy appearance are yet to be determined.

Achieving ideal breast aesthetics with autologous reconstruction

Achieving ideal breast aesthetic has become a top priority for women considering breast reconstruction following mastectomy. The use of autologous tissue is generally regarded as providing the most natural results because donor tissues quality and consistency is similar to that of the native breast. There are several donor sites that are particularly useful for autologous reconstruction that include the abdomen, gluteal region, posterior thorax, and the thigh. Traditional and microsurgical techniques can be used. Shaping is a critical component and involves a basic understanding of the footprint, conus, and skin envelope. This manuscript will review many aspects of breast shaping in-order to achieve aesthetically pleasing results in a predictable manner.

The oncoplastic breast surgery with pedicled omental flap harvested by laparoscopy: initial experiences from China

Background

A new technique of oncoplastic breast surgery (OBS) using laparoscopically harvested pedicled omental flap has been developed in the past 10 years. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of this technique.

Methods

Twenty-five patients underwent OBS using laparoscopically harvested omental flap. Operative time, blood loss, complications, recurrence, and cosmetic outcomes were prospectively analyzed.

Results

Between June 2010 and March 2014, 25 patients were recruited in our study. The surgery was performed successfully in 24 patients. All these patients recovered uneventfully after the surgery. Mean operative time was 310 min, ranging from 205 to 410 min. Mean blood loss was 70 ml, ranging from 20 to 150 ml. Patients were followed up for 32 months on average, ranging from 6 to 51 months. Four patients complained of mild epigastric discomfort. One patient had local recurrence and distant bone and liver metastasis and died 11 months after the surgery. One patient was diagnosed with metastases in the lung, bone, and liver without local recurrence 2 years after surgery. The cosmetic satisfaction rate was 91.7% and 95.8% by surgeon and patients, respectively.

Conclusion

OBS with laparoscopically harvested omental flap might be a feasible technique with a good cosmetic outcome.

Current aspects of therapeutic reduction mammaplasty for immediate early breast cancer management: An update

Breast-conservation surgery (BCS) is established as a safe surgical treatment for most patients with early breast cancer. Recently, advances in oncoplastic techniques are capable of preserving the breast form and quality of life. Although most BCS defects can be managed with primary closure, the aesthetic outcome may be unpredictable. Among technical options, therapeutic reduction mammaplasty (TRM) remains a useful procedure since the BCS defect can be repaired and the preoperative appearance can be improved, resulting in more proportional breasts. As a consequence of rich breast tissue vascularization, the greater part of reduction techniques have based their planning on preserving the pedicle of the nipple-areola complex after tumor removal. Reliable circulation and improvement of a conical shape to the breast are commonly described in TRM reconstructions. With an immediate approach, the surgical process is smooth since both procedures can be carried out in one operative setting. Additionally, it permits wider excision of the tumor, with a superior mean volume of the specimen and potentially reduces the incidence of margin involvement. Regardless of the fact that there is no consensus concerning the best TRM technique, the criteria is determined by the surgeon’s experience, the extent/location of glandular tissue resection and the size of the defect in relation to the size of the remaining breast. The main advantages of the technique utilized should include reproducibility, low interference with the oncological treatment and long-term results. The success of the procedure depends on patient selection, coordinated planning and careful intra-operative management.

Current trends in breast reconstruction: survey of American Society of Plastic Surgeons 2010

BACKGROUND

We conducted a retrospective survey of American Society of Plastic Surgeons to ascertain the current trends in breast reconstruction (BR).

METHODS

Surveys were sent to 2250 active American Society of Plastic Surgeons members by e-mail with a cover letter including the link using Survey Monkey for the year 2010. In all, 489 surveys (a response rate of 21.7%) were returned. Three hundred fifty-eight surveys from respondents performing BR in their practices were included in the study. The survey included questions on surgeon demographics, practice characteristics, BR after mastectomy, number of BR per year, type and timing of BR, use of acellular dermal matrix, reconstructive choices in the setting of previous irradiation and in patients requiring postmastectomy radiation therapy, timing of contralateral breast surgery, fat grafting, techniques used for nipple-areola reconstruction, the complications, and physician satisfaction and physician reported patient satisfaction. Returned responses were tabulated and assessed.

RESULTS

After prophylactic mastectomy, 16% of BRs were performed. In all, 81.2% of plastic surgeons predominantly performed immediate BR. In patients requiring postmastectomy radiation therapy, 81% did not perform immediate BR. Regardless of practice setting and laterality of reconstruction, 82.7% of respondents predominantly performed implant-based BR. Half of the plastic surgeons performing prosthetic BR used acellular dermal matrix. Only 14% of plastic surgeons predominantly performed autologous BR. Surgeons in solo, plastic surgery group practices, and multispecialty group practices preferred implant-based BR for both unilateral and bilateral cases more frequently than those in academic practices (P < 0.05). Overall, plastic surgeons in academic settings preferred autologous BR more frequently than those in other practice locations (P < 0.05). Of total respondents, 64.8% did not perform microsurgical BR at all; 28% reported performing deep inferior epigastric perforator flap BR. Pedicled transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap was the most often used option for unilateral autologous reconstruction, whereas deep inferior epigastric perforator flap was the most commonly used technique for bilateral BR. The overall complication rate reported by respondents was 11%.

CONCLUSION

The survey provides an insight to the current trends in BR practice with respect to surgeon and practice setting characteristics. Although not necessarily the correct best practices, the survey does demonstrate a likely portrayal of what is being practiced in the United States in the area of BR.

Skin perfusion and oxygenation changes in radiation fibrosis

BACKGROUND

Ionizing radiation is known to have deleterious chronic effects on skin, including fibrosis and poor wound healing, hypothesized as mediated by ischemia and hypoxia. Past studies have been unable to simultaneously investigate changes in perfusion and oxygenation as separate parameters. Hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a tool with which to concurrently measure skin perfusion and oxygenation. The authors investigated the use of hyperspectral imaging in a novel murine model of chronic radiation injury.

METHODS

Areas of flank skin (n = 20) on hairless mice were exposed to a 50-Gy dose of beta-radiation. Hyperspectral imaging acquisition was performed at select points through 8 weeks. Immunohistochemical staining and gene expression analysis were performed to evaluate cutaneous vascular density, epidermal cell hypoxia, and angiogenic factors.

RESULTS

All irradiated areas developed a chronic-phase wound by day 28. Hyperspectral imaging demonstrated a 21 percent decline in perfusion on day 56 (p < 0.001), whereas oxygenation levels were unchanged. A 1.7-fold reduction in blood vessel density was measured in irradiated skin compared with control tissue (p < 0.001), but no difference in epidermal cell hypoxia was observed. Vascular endothelial growth factor and related receptor expression were significantly lower in irradiated tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors' analysis does not support the presence of hypoxia in chronic-phase irradiated skin but suggests that hypoperfusion may be a predominant characteristic. The concurrent states of hypoperfusion and normoxia may be explained by the lower metabolic demands of fibrosed tissue.

Transplant of an autologous platelet gel prosthesis to fill defects after tumor excision

BACKGROUND

Tumor excision causes disfigurement in the breast. We present our technique for filling the defect with activated platelet gel, thus avoiding the deformity.

METHODS

Between 2006 and 2011, 23 patients (age range, 45-72 years) underwent tumorectomy for breast cancer. After estimating and extracting the volume of blood required, we centrifuged the blood at 1800 rpm for 8 minutes. Later, the middle and lower thirds of the plasma) were separated and activated with CaCl₂ at a ratio of 1/20, forming a gel, which was used to fill the tumorectomy cavity.

RESULTS

Imaging tests (ultrasound, mammography, and magnetic resonance imaging) performed 12 months after surgery revealed scar tissue in the area where the autoprosthesis had been inserted. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no retraction or deformity in the skin silhouette. Histology study after 1 year demonstrated that the platelet gel had been replaced by fibrous scar tissue with dense collagen and the presence of small capillary vessels. Patients recorded high rates of satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

This technique maintains the shape and volume of the breast, avoiding deformities and retractions of the nipple areola complex by filling the defect with an autoprosthesis. After 12 months, the autoprosthesis had been replaced by fibrous tissue and dense collagen. Postoperative control was good, and the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy was not altered. No cases of tumor relapse were recorded. On palpation, consistency and softness were similar to that of breast tissue. The aesthetic results were highly satisfactory.

Aesthetic subunit of the breast: an analysis of women's preference and clinical implications

Patient satisfaction in breast surgery is dependent on achieving a balance among all aesthetic subunits. The purpose of this study is to identify which subunit of the breast women consider important and correlate this clinically to improve patient satisfaction following breast surgery. A total of 313 subjects (ages, 20-80) were surveyed using a 25-point survey instrument collected via a telemedicine form. The data was analyzed to determine clinical significance. Of the subjects, 63% selected the upper inner quadrant as the most important subunit. Furthermore, 66% of the subjects indicated defects located in this region would lead them to seek operative intervention and this was consistent for all subgroups. Based on these results, defects in the upper inner quadrant of the breast are more likely to cause patient dissatisfaction. Patient outcomes following surgery can be enhanced by restoring volume and minimizing scars in this upper medial subunit of the breast.

Breast augmentation: Part III--preoperative considerations and planning

The past four decades since the introduction of silicone mammary prostheses have seen significant improvements in their quality and durability. Advances in our understanding of the aetiopathology and prevention of adverse capsular contracture (ACC) have occurred such that surgical technique itself has now probably become the single most important determinant of both immediate and long-term outcome. Considered a simple, and in some quarters mindless, procedure it has evolved such that high-quality short- and stable long-term results are now expected. Whilst the fundamentals of breast augmentation (BA) remain, evolutionary philosophies confront today's surgeon with a wealth of options. Of fundamental importance has been the paradigm shift from a purely, or predominantly, volumetric, through biodimensional to a tissue-based approach. With BA, more than any other aesthetic procedure, possessing more variables, choice and influential external factors a thorough understanding of the myriad options available is essential. This review seeks to cover the key elements in obtaining an optimal primary result. It provides a rational basis for the selection of an option tailored to both the patient and the individual tissue characteristics in addition to the pertinent medico-legal issues.