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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Endoscopic Bilateral Nipple-sparing Mastectomy via a Single Axillary Incision with Immediate Pre-pectoral Implant-based Breast Reconstruction
Published on: May 17, 2024
Early, staged reconstruction in young women with severe breast asymmetry
Meghan B Oakes1, Elisabeth H Quint, Yolanda R Smith
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health Systems, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Room L4000 Women's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0276, USA. meghanst@med.umich.edu
Study Objective:
To retrospectively examine a cohort of young women with severe hypoplasia or asymmetric breast development who underwent breast reconstruction with tissue expansion and to determine complication rates as well as patient satisfaction.
Design:
Chart review.
Setting:
The University of Michigan Hospital, a tertiary care center.
Participants:
Women less than 25 years of age who underwent staged breast reconstruction with a tissue expander between 1998 and 2006.
Main Outcome Measures:
Complication rate and patient satisfaction.
Results:
The mean age of patients undergoing the procedure was 18.1 years (range 14-25 years). Of 10 patients with recorded tobacco use, 8 (80%) were noted to be nonsmokers. One of 14 patients (7.1%) was found to have a minor complication (cellulitis), and 2 of 14 (14.2%) were found to have major complications. Of the 13 patients who had at least 6 weeks of follow-up after completion of their reconstruction, 10 were subjectively documented as pleased with the result, 2 records made no mention of patient satisfaction, and 1 patient had concerns regarding her results.
Conclusion:
Our study shows promising results for the use of tissue expanders in young women with significant breast asymmetry or unilateral/bilateral micromastia. The very important issues of short-term and long-term satisfaction and outcomes needs further study before advocating an early approach to teens with breast deformities.