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Study: Shaped Cohesive Gel Implants Improve Transaxillary Breast Augmentation Outcome

The popularity of breast implant surgery continues to surge in New York and other cities across the U.S. Much research has gone into determining the approach that will provide the best outcome. Cosmetic Surgery Times recently reported on a new study published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal which suggests that the use of shaped cohesive gel implants could improve transaxillary breast augmentation outcome. In the transaxillary technique, the breast implant is placed through an incision in the armpit.

According to the authors – a team of plastic surgeons in South Korea – transaxillary breast enhancement has been linked with complications and unpredictable outcomes. Though it has been practiced for about four decades, the transaxillary (under the arm) approach was considered more problematic than the inframammary (under the breast) or periareolar (around the nipple) approaches, as it involves blind dissection. However, direct endoscopic visualization now offers exceptional aesthetic outcomes for the transaxillary incision approach with a concealed scar. According to the new study, the use of shaped implant devices would further enhance the results of transaxillary endoscopic augmentation.

The researchers studied a group of 116 Asian women who underwent transaxillary endoscopic breast augmentation with electrocautery. Patients with an indistinct or absent inframammary fold (IMF) who wished to avoid a breast scar were provided with shaped gel implants for a better outcome.  The breast pocket was created with direct endoscopic visualization and careful control of bleeding. Shaped cohesive gel implants were placed to produce smooth, natural-looking breast mounds and well-defined IMFs.

The patients were monitored for six to 24 months following the procedure. It was found that:

  • There were no instances of pneumothorax (presence of air or gas in the cavity between the lungs and the chest wall, causing collapse of the lung) or instrument-related skin burns
  • There were no cases of severe implant deformation due to rotation or displacement of the implants
  • Only three of 116 patients (2.6%) experienced unilateral capsular contracture
  • One of the patients developed a unilateral hematoma (solid swelling of clotted blood within the tissues) at 3 weeks following the treatment

The authors concluded, “Endoscopic breast surgery is associated with shortened recovery times, a reduced need for drainage, and excellent outcomes, including a well-defined and symmetric IMF… This approach, combined with shaped gel implants, can yield natural-appearing results for transaxillary breast augmentation.â€

If you are considering breast augmentation in NYC, choose the right surgeon to enjoy optimal results. A skilled and experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon will analyze your goals and anatomical considerations and recommend the technique that will provide an aesthetically pleasing outcome.