Estimation of implant volume in immediate breast reconstruction using mastectomy specimen weight

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

The choice of the appropriate volume of silicone implant to replace the mastectomy specimen is usually performed with the aid of provisional silicone molds which leads to a subjective evaluation and dependent on surgeons experience. The discovery of a simple mathematical predictive model allowed an objective, easy and reproducible evaluation by any plastic surgeon. This study aimed to identify the eficiency of a mathematical model in patients operated in Brazil, with ethnic characteristics difierent from other countries derived from the formulas had been founded (France and Taiwan).

Methods:

A search was carried out in the PubMed and VHL databases in the last 10 years, using the keywords: “Breast Implants”, “Mammoplasty”,” Mastectomy”, “Reconstruction” and “Methods in Plastic Surgery” and a prospective study with 20 patients (30 breasts) operated by authors.

Results:

We used the Nice (France) formula because our patients mostly produced specimens larger than 450g and our technique, using synthetic mesh forming the pectoral submuscular pouch, allowed the reconstruction in a single time with silicone prostheses larger than 300cc.

Conclusion:

There was eficiency in the use of the Nice Formula to identify the appropriate volume in immediate breast reconstruction to mastectomy using the weight of the specimen in grams and it had been produced satisfactory aesthetic results in the immediate and late postoperative period.

Keywords:
Mastectomy; Mammaplasty; Breast implants; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Breast neoplasms