Integrated Approach to Upper Body Shaping: Long Time Results

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Reconstructive Surgery
• Aesthetic Surgery

Background:

• Rising rates of bariatric surgery lead to increased demand for breast contouring.
• Massive weight loss causes significant breast ptosis, complicating shaping.
• Isolated breast procedures can create upper body aesthetic imbalance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a combined approach for breast autoaugmentation using lateral chest/back folds.
• To improve breast volume and contour in postbariatric patients.
• To assess the long-term outcomes of integrated upper body lifting and breast reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• A single-stage procedure combining upper body lift with autoaugmentation mastopexy using lateral thoracic perforator flaps.
• Utilized dorsal soft tissue for autoaugmentation in selected cases.
• Assessed flap viability with intraoperative indocyanine green angiography in 24 patients.

Main Results:

• Body contouring averaged 2.2 years post-bariatric surgery.
• Autoaugmentation with extended fasciocutaneous flaps was combined with upper body lifts.
• Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 5 years.

Conclusions:

• Addressing only the breasts post-bariatric surgery causes aesthetic disharmony.
• Autologous augmentation using subcutaneous tissue corrects upper body sagging and augments ptotic breasts.
• The five-year follow-up confirms durable, satisfactory results with minimal complications.