BACKGROUND: The accurate determination of breast volume improves the outcome of reconstructive procedures. The aim of the present study is to correlate the preoperative measurement of breast volume using the plastic shells method with the intraoperative application of the Archimedes principle to assess breast volume in immediate breast reconstruction using permanent expanders in patients having breasts with a small volume and mild ptosis grade. METHODS: Ten patients were enrolled in this retrospective nonrandomized study. Breast volume was measured preoperatively using fixed-volume plastic shells and intraoperatively using the Archimedes method. An appropriate permanent expander was selected and inserted in a retromuscular position. The team classified breast symmetry as poor, good, or very good. RESULTS: Differences between pre- and intraoperative measurements were statistically significant (P < 0.01, Student's t-test). Preoperative values were lower than intraoperative values by 15% in 70% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Breast volume assessment in immediate reconstruction procedures with permanent expanders can be improved and yield more predictable results by the combined use of different pre- and intraoperative measuring techniques. The method that uses fixed-volume plastic shells tends to underestimate the resected breast volume compared to the intraoperative method that uses the Archimedes principle.
Breast; Mammaplasty; Breast implants; Reconstructive surgical procedures.; Surgery, plastic
