Immediate Breast Reconstruction Using Silicone Implants in Previously Augmented Patients

Augmentation mammoplasty is one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgeries worldwide. According to Cahan et al. [1], no statistical significance was noted in the mean tumor size, stage, nodal status of breast cancer between augmented patient group and non-augmented patients. Since the rate of breast cancer is radically increasing, and breast augmentation surgery is performed actively over the recent years, the need for combined performance of breast cancer surgery and reconstruction in previously augmented patients is thus increasing [2,3]. The anatomical and physical properties of the breast in patients with a history of mammoplasty differ from those in patients who have not undergone mammoplasty. Moreover, the patient’s high interest in aesthetic appearance and having significantly less breast tissue shows the difference from those patients who have not undergone mammoplasty. Patients who have undergone breast augmentation commonly have a low body mass index (BMI), lesser lower abdominal and back tissue limits in harvesting autologous tissues [4]. Meanwhile, skin-sparing mastectomy enables immediate implant-based breast reconstruction. By utilizing the existing implants inserted space, new implants can be inserted more easily. We report our experiDong Hun Choi, Dong Kyu Kim, Dong Wan Ryu, Jeong Woo Lee, Kang Young Choi, Ho Yun Chung, Byung Chae Cho, Ho Yong Park, Jung Dug Yang