Restoring the upper pole with fat grafting in reduction mammoplasty: an anthropometric evaluation

Abstract

Reduction mammoplasty is a procedure aiming to reduce the size of the breast with restoring the nipple-areola complex (NAC) to its normal position together with maintaining an aesthetic rounded contour and projection for the breast. In addition to cosmesis, reduction mammoplasty has an additional functional benefit of upper back and neck pain abolishment. In this study, we evaluated the role of fat grafting in maintaining superior pole fullness with reduction mammoplasty in conjunction with breast measurements. This is a prospective case-control study including 20 patients all presenting with mammary hyperplasia for reduction mammoplasty. This study was conducted at Kasr El-Ainy, Cairo University Hospitals, Plastic Surgery Department, between June 2019 and February 2020. Patients were divided randomly into two groups: A and B. Randomization was achieved by determining the order of patient presentation to our outpatient clinic. Odd numbers were called group A (fat injection group), and even numbers were called group B (control group, no fat injection was done). The mean age for group A was 27.9 years (range 18–41, SD 7.3), while the mean age for group B was 31.3 years (range 18–45, SD 11). The mean SSN-Nipple distance for group A: pre-operatively 31.3 (range 28–34, SD 2.2), immediate post-operative 21 cm, 1-month follow-up 21.4 cm and 3-month follow-up 21.8 cm. The mean SSN-Nipple distance for group B: pre-operatively 31.9 (range 28–35, SD 2.3), immediate post-operative 21.4 cm, 1-month follow-up 21.8 cm and 3-month follow-up 22.4 cm. Fat grafting to the upper pole is an excellent ancillary process to restore upper pole fullness and cleavage in the cases of reduction mammoplasty. More studies with a larger population are needed to determine standard selection criteria. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.