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Howarth et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2017;4:215-8 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2017.80
Aesthetic Research

www.parjournal.net
Original Article Open Access

Larger breast implants warranted for post-

mastectomy reconstruction

Ashley L. Howarth , Abigail M. Rodriguez , Vipul Gargya , Heather D. Lucas , Raman C. Mahabir 1
1
1
2
3
1 Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
2 Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Baylor Scott and White Hospital, Temple, TX 76508, USA.
3 Division of General Surgery, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA.
Correspondence to: Dr. Raman C. Mahabir, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ
85054, USA. E-mail: mahabir.raman@mayo.edu
How to cite this article: Howarth AL, Rodriguez AM, Gargya V, Lucas HD, Mahabir RC. Larger breast implants warranted for post-mastectomy
reconstruction. Plast Aesthet Res 2017;4:215-8.
ABSTRACT
Article history: Aim: Our goal was to ascertain if there was a role for larger breast implants in breast
Received: 24 Oct 2017 reconstruction. Methods: Patients that underwent mastectomy and implant-based breast
First Decision: 17 Dec 2017 reconstruction were identified and reviewed. Results: Of the total specimens, 92 (14.7%)
Revised: 25 Dec 2017 weighed more than 800 g with a mean weight of 1140 g (range 803 to 2177 g). Of the patients
Accepted: 25 Dec 2017 with these larger specimens, 45 (48.9%) selected the largest available implants (800 mL
Published: 29 Dec 2017 implants) for their reconstruction. Conclusion: There are patients undergoing mastectomy
and implant-based breast reconstruction who are unable to have reconstruction to their native
Keywords: breast volume because of the current implant-volume restrictions.
Breast,
reconstruction,
implant

INTRODUCTION exists that links patient satisfaction to the size of a
reconstructed breast [10] , especially for patients who
The mastectomy rate in the United States has been have native breast volumes larger than 800 mL.
steadily increasing, including the rate for contralateral These women are not able to match their native
prophylactic mastectomy and elective mastectomy [1-5] . breast size with implant alone based reconstruction
Mastectomies permanently alter a patient’s body with the current implant-size limitations imposed
[6]
image and thereby impact self-esteem . Patients who by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
undergo breast reconstruction after mastectomy are (maximum volume, 800 mL, Table 1). Of note, the FDA
more satisfied than those who undergo mastectomy has recently approved human trials of larger breast
without reconstruction [7-9] . However, the reconstructed implants (volumes to 1445 mL) [11,12] . We designed a
breast can leave a patient feeling incompletely retrospective study to determine how native breast
restored when the native breast size was larger volumes related to reconstructive implant volumes
than reconstructed breast volume [10] . Limited data for patients who underwent mastectomy followed by

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