Outcomes of saline implant-based immediate breast reconstruction: 15-year follow-up results

Background@#Although rarely used at present in South Korea, saline implants accounted for most of the implants used from 1992 to 2007. However, few studies have reported on the long-term outcomes of saline implants, especially in breast reconstruction. We analyzed the long-term outcomes of patients who underwent direct-to-saline implant reconstruction. @*Methods@#This retrospective study included patients who underwent saline implant-based immediate breast reconstruction between 2003 and 2007. The patients’ demographic information, medical history, operative/implant details, and oncologic data were collected. Early and late complications, reoperations, and final outcomes of the implant (maintenance, explantation, exchange, and autologous conversion) were analyzed to determine the long-term results and to identify factors affecting the outcomes. @*Results@#Early complications (within 90 days) were noted in 19.5% of patients and late complications (after 90 days) occurred in 29.3% of patients. The most common early complications were skin necrosis and delayed healing, whereas the most common late complications were rippling or visibility and capsular contracture. Of the implants, 22% were replaced (12%) or converted to autologous tissue (10%). The factors that influenced the final outcomes were patient age, nipple-areola-sparing procedure, breast size, implant fill volume, and implant manufacturer. @*Conclusions@#Patients who previously received saline implants still visit the clinic for consultations. This long-term follow-up study with few dropouts reflects the real needs of reconstruction patients. Our results provide useful information for consulting with patients who already have saline implants or those who request for as much information about available implant options as possible.

An alternative method to create a breast mound after tissue expander insertion: The modified Goldilocks technique

With the recent increase in reported cases of breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), fears of breast implants have increased. In particular, some patients now desire expander removal without implant insertion. In the case described herein, a 41-year-old female patient who had undergone a skin-sparing mastectomy with expander insertion due to breast cancer requested expander removal due to fear of BIA-ALCL during expansion. The authors modified the Goldilocks technique to prevent a chest wall deformity due to expansion. The expanded skin was sufficiently thick, as it was engrafted with acellular dermal matrix, and some of it was de-epithelized and rolled in. The patient’s chest wall depression was completely corrected and an acceptable breast mound was created. To summarize, this technique was used to correct a chest wall deformity and to form a breast mound in a patient who underwent expander removal without implant insertion.