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The Delay Fill Technique: A Safer Approach to Combination Augmentation Mastopexy
Christopher K Patronella1, Henry A Mentz2, Jaclyn Johnson-Alviza3
1Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.
Seminars in Plastic Surgery
|November 4, 2015
Summary
Delaying breast implant placement during augmentation mastopexy significantly lowers complication and revision rates. This two-stage approach reduces risks associated with immediate implant fill, improving patient outcomes in breast reconstruction.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Reconstructive Surgery
Background:
- Combined breast augmentation and mastopexy presents surgical challenges.
- High revision rates are reported for one-stage procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the outcomes of immediate versus delayed implant fill in subpectoral breast augmentation with mastopexy.
- To assess the impact of delayed implant fill on complication and revision rates.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective comparison of 101 patients with immediate implant fill and 203 patients with delayed (10-14 days) implant fill.
- Subpectoral breast augmentation with mastopexy was performed in all patients.
Main Results:
- The revision rate was 24% for immediate fill versus 10.3% for delayed fill.
- Soft tissue complications occurred in 16% of the immediate fill group and 2% of the delayed fill group.
Conclusions:
- Delaying implant fill in combined augmentation mastopexy significantly reduces soft tissue complications and revision procedures.
- The 'delay flap phenomenon' contributes to fewer wound-healing issues with delayed implant fill.
