Augmentation mastopexy and augmentation mammoplasty: an analysis of 1,406 consecutive cases

Aim: Simultaneous augmentation mastopexy is a challenging operation for esthetic plastic surgeons. Complication and revision rates following augmentation mammoplasty or mastopexy are less commonly seen when these two procedures are performed separately. However, when the two procedures are combined, the complication rate is reported exponentially higher when compared with its individual component carried out separately. The current retrospective chart review is a comparative analysis of the two procedures performed by a single surgeon. Methods: Retrospective data were collected using patient’s charts. All patients who had augmentation mammoplasty (Group A) or simultaneous augmentation with mastopexy (Group B) in muscle splitting biplane using round cohesive gel textured silicone implants by a single surgeon were included. Results: A total of 1,406 patients had consecutive augmentation mammoplasty or simultaneous augmentation mastopexy. Augmentation mammoplasty (Group A) included 1,298 and simultaneous augmentation with mastopexy (Group B) had 108 patients, respectively. The mean age of the patients in Group A and B was 29.6 years and 32.2 years, respectively (P = 0.006). The mean size of the implants in Group A and B was 340 mL and 308 mL (P = 0.001), respectively. Wound infection in Group A and B was seen in 0.6% and 3.7%, respectively. Wound breakdown was seen in 1.1% in Group A as compared to 6.5% in Group B (P = 0.001). Revision surgeries were performed in 1.4% and 11.1% of Group A and B, respectively (P = 0.001). Conclusion: There was a statistically and clinically significant higher rate of complications and revision rate noted in simultaneous augmentation with mastopexy (Group B) as compared to augmentation mammoplasty alone (Group A). However, the rise in complications rate is sum of the complications of the two individual components performed and not exponential.