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The process of breast augmentation: four sequential steps for optimizing outcomes for patients
1Dallas, Texas From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|December 4, 2008
Summary
A defined, comprehensive process for breast augmentation, including patient education and structured follow-up, significantly improves patient outcomes compared to previous clinical trial data.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Surgical Outcomes
- Patient Management
Background:
- Breast augmentation has a 40-year history, but patient outcomes remain suboptimal.
- Lack of a defined patient management process hinders ideal outcomes in breast augmentation.
- Existing premarket approval trials highlight the need for improved practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clinically define and evaluate a comprehensive process for breast augmentation.
- To analyze patient outcomes resulting from this defined process.
- To compare outcomes with existing premarket approval clinical trial data.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 300 primary breast augmentations (2001-2005).
- Implementation of a defined process: structured education, informed consent, preoperative planning, refined surgical technique, and postoperative management.
- Systematic patient follow-up.
Main Results:
- Mean follow-up of 2.1 years.
- Common complications included rippling, palpability, soft-tissue stretch, and hypersensitivity.
- Overall reoperation rate was 3.7% (4.7% for saline, 2.9% for cohesive gel implants).
Conclusions:
- Optimizing breast augmentation requires a defined, integrated process for enhanced patient outcomes.
- This study presents the first comprehensive definition and validation of such a process.
- The defined process yielded superior patient outcomes compared to premarket approval clinical trial data and is transferable to other surgeons.
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