Patient Satisfaction Following Inverted-T and Short-Scar Mammaplasty as Measured by the Breast Evaluation Questionnaire 55.

BACKGROUND: Mastopexy combined with silicone implant placement is one of the most frequently performed plastic surgeries. Various techniques have been developed to increase the degree of patient satisfaction after surgery. The goal is to give the breasts a harmonious shape, generating the smallest scars possible. The Breast Evaluation Questionnaire 55 (BEQ 55) was developed in 2006 as a tool for assessing the satisfaction and comfort of patients with the general appearance of their breasts. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to compare the degree of satisfaction of patients undergoing mastopexy by the inverted-T technique vs the short-scar technique by the BEQ 55. METHODS: The BEQ 55 was administered pre- and postoperatively to 200 patients who underwent mastopexy performed by the first author between October 2013 and September 2017. One hundred patients underwent the short-scar technique, and 100 patients underwent the inverted-T technique. RESULTS: The first analysis used descriptive statistics. Relative frequencies were used to track the responses corresponding to each technique. There was an increase in the level of patient comfort and satisfaction with breast appearance after surgery in both groups. The short-scar technique was shown to be superior, with statistical significance (P < 0.05) found for the questions evaluating comfort with overall appearance naked, comfort with breast appearance naked, and satisfaction with breast appearance. CONCLUSIONS: Both techniques improved the patients' satisfaction and comfort with their breasts. When the short-scar technique was used, patients were more comfortable with their breast appearance and with their overall appearance naked.

Reduced Remodeling Biomarkers Tissue Expression in Nanotextured Compared With Polyurethane Implants Capsules: A Study in Rats.

BACKGROUND: In the biological response to biomaterials, the implant shell plays a key role in immune and inflammatory reactions. We hypothesized that the capsules formed around nanotextured implants exhibit an immunohistochemical behavior different to those formed around polyurethane implants. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate through immunohistochemistry markers the capsules formed around nanotextured and polyurethane implants. METHODS: Sixty albino female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (nanotextured and polyurethane), with 30 animals in each group. A mini silicone implant was inserted on the back of the animals. After a predetermined period, the animals were killed, and the capsules formed around the implants were studied. The capsules in the 30-, 60-, and 90-day subgroups were analyzed via immunohistochemistry to detect markers for fibroblast α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), cluster of differentiation 34 (CD34), and CD68, via picrosirius staining to determine the density of type I and III collagen fibers and via hematoxylin and eosin staining to assess capsule thickness. A Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the groups, and a Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the subgroups. RESULTS: Lower α-SMA, TGF-ß, CD34 and CD68 immunoexpression was observed in the nanotextured 30- and 60-day subgroups than in the corresponding polyurethane subgroups. In the 90-day subgroup, more pronounced α-SMA and CD34 immunoexpression was observed in the nanotextured group; however, TGF-ß and CD68 immunoexpression remained lower. The nanotextured implants showed reduced capsular thickness and greater formation of type I collagen in all the analyzed subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Nanotextured implants led to reduced immune and inflammatory reactions compared with polyurethane implants according to all analyzed variables.