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Topic: Aesthetic Surgery of the Breast

Bi-plane breast augmentation: a case series

supporting its use and benefits

Matthew Stodell, Gordon McArthur, Mathew James

Deapartment of Plastic, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery. St Thomas’ Hospital, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
Address for correspondence: Dr. Mathew James, St Thomas’ Hospital, Guys and St. Thomas’ NHS Trust, London, SE1 7EH, UK.
E-mail: mattjames@doctors.net.uk

ABSTRACT
Aim: Breast augmentation has traditionally been performed in either the subglandular or submuscular
plane. Dual plane augmentation has been described before and captures the advantages of both of
these techniques but reduces the trade-offs. The biplane muscle splitting technique adopts the similar
advantages seen with the dual plane method without the need for extensive costal muscle fibre release
at the infra-mammary fold. Methods: Thirty-five patients underwent bilateral breast augmentation
using the biplanar technique from November 2007 to December 2008. All operations were performed
by the senior author and followed up prospectively. Results: Follow up ranged from 9 months to 21
months. All of the patients achieved precise and reliable implant placement with no revisions or patient
dissatisfaction. There have been no cases of implant misplacement/migration; synmastia, dynamic
breast deformity, capsular contracture or infections. A single case of unilateral haematoma occurred early
in the series. Conclusion: Our operative cases and early follow-up supports the use of this novel biplanar
technique for breast augmentation. It optimizes the advantages of subglandular and submuscular breast
augmentation with simpler dissection and less complications than other submuscular techniques. It can
be used in a wide variety of breast types with predictable results.
Key words:
Biplane; dual-plane; breast augmentation; submuscular implants; muscle splitting augmentation

INTRODUCTION we present a case series of women who have all undergone
bilateral breast augmentation using the same technique that
The use of a dual plane for breast augmentation is not a Khan describes. This study supports and further reinforces
new concept. Its use in primary breast augmentation is the benefits and advantages of this novel technique.
[1]
becoming more popular and can be performed through
various different approaches. Indeed it is becoming METHODS
[2]
a recognised method for the correction of established
capsular contracture in secondary breast augmentation. Thirty-five patients underwent bilateral breast augmentation
[3]
The concept of the biplane muscle splitting technique using the biplanar technique from November 2007 to
[4]
was only introduced by Khan in 2007. It differs from the December 2008. All operations were performed by the
aforementioned dual plane technique as the implant is
positioned both in front of and behind pectoral is major
simultaneously without the need of muscle release. Here This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 License, which allows others to remix,
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How to cite this article: Stodell M, McArthur G, James M. Bi-plane
DOI: breast augmentation: a case series supporting its use and benefits.
10.20517/2347-9264.2015.51 Plast Aesthet Res 2016;3:17-20.
Received: 29-04-2015; Accepted: 26-10-2015
© 2016 Plastic and Aesthetic Research | Published by OAE Publishing Inc. 17