Islanded pedicled superior epigastric artery perforator flaps for bilateral breast augmentation with mastopexy after massive weight loss

• Published in: Journal of plastic, reconstructive & aesthetic surgery reconstructive & aesthetic surgery, 2011-12, Vol.64 (12), p.1677-1681
• Main Authors: Szychta, P, Anderson, W.D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Augmentation mastopexy; Autologous breast augmentation; Biological and medical sciences; Breast surgery; Epigastric Arteries; Female; Humans; Islanded pedicled superior epigastric artery perforator flap; Mammaplasty - methods; Massive weight loss; Mastopexy; Medical sciences; Plastic Surgery; SEA; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Flaps - blood supply; Tissue and Organ Harvesting - methods; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 1748-6815; 1878-0539
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjps.2011.04.025

Summary Objective To present a surgical technique of recruiting tissue from the abdominal wall, based on the superior epigastric artery perforators, in order to provide autologous augmentation of the breasts with mastopexy in patients after massive weight loss. Case report A 39-year-old woman presented to the plastic surgery outpatient clinic with significant bilateral breast deformity following massive weight loss of 85.5 kg. She was dissatisfied with the appearance of her breasts and abdomen despite previous Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty. On examination, the patient had major ptosis with a deflated breast skin envelope and near-total absence of breast volume. She had insignificant brachial skin excess and limited excess of the lateral chest wall. There was a large element of residual skin redundancy in her upper abdomen. Surgical technique Bilaterally, islanded superior epigastric artery perforator flaps were harvested from the epigastric region. In addition, turnover flaps were raised from the lateral chest wall. Inferior pedicled mastopexy was performed and the flaps were secured to the anterior chest wall in order to augment the breasts. Conclusions The islanded pedicled superior epigastric artery perforator flap is a useful technique for utilising the upper epigastric abdominal excess to augment the breasts following previous massive weight loss, obviating the need for implants and therefore eliminating potential implant-related complications.