A Technique to Decrease Breast Shape Deformity During Muscle Contraction in Submuscular Augmentation Mammaplasty

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to decrease breast shape distortion during pectoralis muscle contraction following submuscular augmentation mammaplasty. We followed 348 patients who had retromuscular augmentation mammoplasty: 251 (72.1%) had polyurethane-covered gel-filled, 97 (27.9%) had textured-silicone gel-filled implants. Among the 348, 46 had surgery following the Regnault technique and 302 had surgery by the below-mentioned technique. Periareolar incision, bipartision of breast parenchyma down to the fascia, undermining of breast base from the fascia downward to the inframammary sulcus or a little below it, detaching of muscle off the thoracic cage, disinsertion of abdomino-costal pectoralis attachments. Full thickness incision of pectoralis muscle on a vertical line on the nipple projection for 2-5 inches. Placing of prosthesis. Drainage. Closure. No objective evaluation was used, only clinical judgments by three observers--the surgeon, a nurse and the patient herself. The results showed a definite decrease of the dynamic deformity among patients in whom the author's technical variation was carried out. This technique allows also, for decreasing the upward pushing of the implant during pectoralis muscle contraction and facilitates stretch of the breast tissue in patients with tighter breast envelopes. Despite lack of precise measurements, conclusions drawn from clinical judgments, taken as objectively as possible, suggest that the use of this technique may offer the solution of an otherwise disturbing collateral effect, frequently seen after this operation.