Skin reducing mastectomy for the management of patients with breast cancer and large ptotic breasts. Assessment of the safety, the late results and the quality of life of the patients

Abstract

Background : Immediate Breast reconstruction (IBR) has become a basic option for most patients undergoing mastectomy. Skin sparing mastectomy has been proven equally safe as non skin sparing mastectomy offering excellent results for small to medium size breasts. For patients with large ptotic breasts though, IBR is challenging. Skin reducing mastectomy or otherwise type IV SSM is an attractive but otherwise a complex and demanding option. SRM is a combination of breast reduction, dermal flap creation, skin sparing mastectomy and breast reconstruction. The pectoralis major is used in combination with the de-epithilized lower breast dermal flap to create the pocket for the implant. Our purpose was to assess the safety, the early and late results of this technique.