Current Trends and Controversies in Breast Augmentation.

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Surgery
• Surgical Practices

Background:

• Survey on current attitudes and common practices in breast augmentation.
• Focus on established norms and emerging trends in cosmetic surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate contemporary breast augmentation techniques and surgeon preferences.
• To identify adoption rates of new technologies and controversial practices.

Main Methods:

• Electronic questionnaire distributed to active American Society of Plastic Surgeons members.
• Survey covered controversies, new technologies, common practices, secondary procedures, and demographics.
• 1067 surgeons responded to the 35-item survey.

Main Results:

• 50% of surgeons never use anatomically shaped implants; 42% use them infrequently.
• Autologous fat grafting is primarily a supplemental technique.
• 7% reported cases of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).
• Preoperative 3D imaging is not widely used (85% do not use it).
• Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is common in secondary procedures.
• Dominant preferences include smooth silicone implants (>300cc), inframammary incisions, and partial submuscular pockets.
• Capsular contracture and size change are primary reasons for reoperation.
• Almost half of respondents perform <50 breast augmentations annually.

Conclusions:

• A standard approach to breast augmentation exists among surveyed surgeons.
• Surgeons are hesitant to adopt controversial practices and new technologies.
• Use of acellular dermal matrix is gaining popularity.
• The reported 7% incidence of anaplastic large cell lymphoma is significant.