文摘
Summary
BackgroundChanges in breast-morphology occur after all types of breast surgery, but a systematic and objective surgical result assessment is currently lacking. Three-dimensional (3-D) surface imaging offers the ability to quantitatively evaluate breast contour, shape, surface and volume changes after surgery. This study evaluates 3-D breast contour and volume changes after breast augmentation over time.Methods<p>3-D surface imaging of 14 subpectoral breast-augmentation patients (n = 28 breasts) were accomplished over six time periods (preoperative (OP), post-OP 1: 2–3 days; post-OP 2: 1 week; post-OP 3: 1 month; post-OP 4: 3 months; and post-OP 5: 6 months after surgery) and linear-distance measurement, breast volume and surface changes were analysed. 3-D breast-contour- and volume variations are expressed in percentage changes over time.Results<p>All breast measurements changed significantly between pre-OP and post-OP 1 (Friedmann test, p = 0.001–0.025). First significant postoperative changes over time compared with post-OP 1 for breast volume, surface, sternal notch to nipple and nipple to inframammary-fold-distance measurements are quantifiable after 1 month (post hoc Wilcoxon test, p = 0.001 for all) with further relevant breast volume (post hoc Wilcoxon test, p = 0.041) and surface changes (post hoc Wilcoxon test, p = 0.037) between months 1 and 3 after surgery. The inframammary fold dropped by 1.4 cm after 6 months and final breast volume ± 0.5 % is reached between months 1 and 3 after surgery. Valuable reductions in breast contour and volume by nearly 85 % are also reached after 1 month (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.001) and changed to 98 % after 3 months and 100 % after 6 months.Conclusions<p>Breast morphological changes following subpectoral breast augmentation are completed after 3 months. 3-D surface imaging may play a part in comparing different breast-augmentation techniques.
