Abstract
BACKGROUND: Immediate prosthetic reconstruction has evolved to a prepectoral position. A technique is described where the pectoral and serratus fascia is raised from superiorly. Initially, Vicryl mesh was used to close the superior fascial defect, but later abandoned by using primary closure for tissue expanders, or creating a pocket in the infraclavicular pectoralis muscle after prosthesis (DTI) insertion. The inframammary fold is also reinforced. Patients with a BMI > 30 have axillary liposuction. METHOD: Retrospective analysis over a 4-year period. Data included age, number of breasts having expanders or DTI. Prosthetic extrusion and follow-up were recorded. The percentage coverage by fascia was calculated. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (80 breasts) had mean age of 42 years (range 32-62), twelve patients (19 breasts) had Vicryl mesh inserted, while 35 patients (61 breasts) had closure as noted above. Tissue expanders were inserted in 39 breasts (10 mesh, 29 without). DTI (direct to implant) performed in 41 breasts (32 no mesh, 9 with mesh). Three patients with mesh developed recalcitrant seromas. The mean size of prosthesis used was 353ml (range 200-500 ml). Extrusion occurred in eight breasts (two with mesh, six without). Mean coverage of the prosthesis by fascia was 74% (range 50-100%), and nine patients also had bilateral axillary liposuction of the axillary roll. Mean follow-up was 13 months. CONCLUSION: Another technique for immediate prosthetic reconstruction providing an additional layer of prosthetic cover in prepectoral plane, without mesh. Applicable for all grades of ptosis. Extrusion rate is low. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .