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Identification system proposed for challenging breast augmentations

Researchers defined complicating factors for breast augmentation surgery, and suggested an identification system for preoperative identification of breast deformities in a recently published study.

The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of photographs and records of 100 women (average age, 26 years) who underwent breast augmentation, with an average follow-up of 18 months. There were 18 patients who experienced suboptimal surgical results.

Per patient, the average number of deformities was 0.98. Seventy patients (70%) had preoperative breast, chest wall or vertebral deformities. Twenty-one patients had inframammary fold asymmetry, the most common deformity.

The researchers studied the relationship between suboptimal surgical results and complicating factors.

They defined major complicating factors as deformities that caused suboptimal results alone, while other deformities were called minor complicating factors. Patients who had one major or at least four minor complicating factors had suboptimal results. Challenging cases were defined as patients who had suboptimal results because of major or minor complicating factors.

“Proper surgical planning and patient education are important determinants of outcome of breast augmentation surgery,” the researchers wrote. “Preoperative identification of these deformities is one of the most important factors in surgical planning.”

“This identification system is easy to apply and is important for the surgeon for correct planning of the surgical procedure and for preoperative patient counseling,” the researchers concluded. – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.