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Composite breast augmentation: soft-tissue planning using implants and fat
Eric Auclair1, Phillip Blondeel, Daniel Alexander Del Vecchio
1Paris, France; Gent, Belgium; and Boston, Mass. From the Clinique Esthetique de Paris Spontini; the Department of Plastic Surgery, University Hospital Gent; and Back Bay Plastic Surgery.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|August 30, 2013
Summary
Composite breast augmentation, combining implants with fat grafting, offers a versatile solution for inadequate soft tissue coverage. This technique enhances natural look and feel, improving outcomes in both primary and revision breast augmentation procedures.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Aesthetic Surgery
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Suboptimal outcomes in breast augmentation often stem from insufficient soft tissue coverage of implants.
- A novel composite breast augmentation technique is presented, integrating implants with autologous fat grafting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of composite breast augmentation using implants combined with fat grafting.
- To assess the viability of grafted fat and the safety profile of the procedure.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 197 patients underwent composite breast augmentation over 3 years for primary or revision cases with thin soft tissue.
- Quantitative 3D imaging assessed fat graft volume; mammograms were reviewed for safety outcomes.
- Preexpansion of tissue was utilized in revision cases to accommodate fat grafting.
Main Results:
- Fifty-seven percent of injected fat graft volume persisted at 1 year post-procedure.
- The use of fat for soft tissue coverage allowed for subfascial implant placement in many cases.
- No cysts, masses, or fat necrosis were observed, suggesting a favorable safety profile.
Conclusions:
- Composite breast augmentation provides a powerful and versatile approach, yielding synergistic aesthetic results.
- Fat grafting to the breasts demonstrates significant clinical utility beyond simple volume enhancement in augmentation procedures.
