Augmentation/Mastopexy: A 3-Year Review of a Single Surgeon's Practice

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Augmentation/mastopexy is of considerable interest to plastic surgeons who perform breast surgery because of its complexity as well as its high rate of legal claims. METHODS: This single-surgeon, three-year study evaluated complications, outcomes, re-operation rates among 166 patients who received 171 procedures for primary and secondary augmentation, and primary and secondary augmentation/mastopexy. Aspects of the treatment plan were reviewed including classifying ptosis, procedure selection, surgical planning, and operative technique. There were 57 primary breast augmentations, 60 secondary breast augmentations, 17 primary mastopexies, 8 secondary mastopexies, 23 primary augmentation/mastopexies, 30 secondary augmentation/mastopexies. RESULTS: The 23 primary and 30 secondary augmentation/mastopexy patients had a 17 % and 23 % complication rate, respectively. The revision rate for augmentation/mastopexy was 8.7 % for the primaries and 16.6 % for the secondaries. For reference, primary augmentation and secondary augmentation had a complication rate of 1.7 % and 21.6 % respectively. Primary augmentation had a 1.7 % revision rate compared to 18.7 % secondary augmentation. We reviewed the most common problems leading to a revision, which were capsular contracture and asymmetry correction. Other complications enumerated included size change and rupture rates. CONCLUSION: In summary, primary augmentation/mastopexy is a commonly performed procedure and has a significantly higher complication rate than primary augmentation. Secondary augmentation/mastopexy is also common and has a higher revision and complication rate.