Breast Sculpting: An Anatomically Based Reconstruction During 408 Breast Explantations

Over time, there has been a significant rise in the number of patients who require and/or desire breast explantation. From implant complication issues to more contemporary reasons, such as breast implant disease, the causes are varied.

This retrospective study analyzed 204 patients (408 breasts) who underwent explantation between 2021 and 2025 using the "breast sculpting" technique. The approach incorporates strategies such as tissue recruitment, muscle repositioning, and reshaping of the breast footprint, with the objective of restoring contour and achieving optimal aesthetic balance.

About 78.6% of the implants were in the retroglandular plane, 11.5% in the submuscular plane, and 9.8% in the dual plane. Two (0.98%) patients developed deep vein thrombosis, 1 (0.49%) patient experienced a minor pulmonary embolism, and 5 (1.22%) patients experienced unilateral breast hematomas.

The breast sculpting technique promotes a tailored approach to breast tissue management. It facilitates multiple strategies for reconstructing breast shape following implant removal, with a particular emphasis on restoring natural breast contour-thereby differentiating it from previously described methods in the literature. This technique demonstrates a low risk of complications and does not preclude the use of lipofilling as a subsequent procedure.