Fat grafting versus implant-based treatment of breast asymmetry, a single surgeon experience over 13 years: a paradigm shift?
di Summa PG., Osinga R., Sapino G., Glen K., Higgins G., Tay S.
Retrospective Study with a reported sample of 9, published in Gland Surg (2021) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.
Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.
- Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
- Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
- Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
- Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
- Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.
- Study type
- Retrospective Study
- Journal
- Gland Surg (2021)
- Reported sample size
- 9
- Source database
- Europe PMC
- PMID
- 34268076
- PMCID
- PMC8258888
- DOI
- 10.21037/gs-21-91
- Citations
- 8
Abstract (original English)
Background Breast asymmetry can result from congenital or traumatic aetiologies. Breast implants, autologous fat grafting, or a combination of both of these techniques are commonly used to achieve symmetry. This study adds critical evaluation of long-term patient outcomes in a large study group, to evaluate pearls and pitfalls of these treatment modalities. Methods A prospectively maintained database of a single surgeon experience in breast asymmetry treatment over a 13-year period (2006-2018) was retrospectively analysed. Breast implant surgery and fat grafting to treat asymmetry were compared in terms of number of operations to achieve symmetry, complications, and overall patient satisfaction. Results Thirty-five patients underwent breast implant surgery, requiring an average 2.1±1.6 operations to achieve symmetry, with a major complication rate (requiring secondary procedures) of 26% (n=9). Again, 26% (n=9) were converted to lipofilling due to either implant removal or unsatisfactory results. Thirty (86%) patients underwent fat transfer monotherapy to achieve symmetry and no major complications were recorded. Nine percent (n=3) of these patients preceded to have additional implant surgery. Conclusions Although implant-based reconstruction seemingly offers a quick single stage procedure, it is associated with significantly more revision procedures as a result of complications
What this study does not prove
- • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
- • Without an adequate control group, treatment effects cannot be separated from other factors.
Evidence level
Early human evidence such as case series or small samples is exploring possible benefits.
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