A 10-Year Experience With Gel vs. Saline in 2000 Patients—With Long-Term Patient Satisfaction Measured by the BREAST-Q
- Joe Gryskiewicz, MD, FACS
- Robert LeDuc, PhD
- Dr Gryskiewicz is an Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota Academic Health Center, School of Dentistry Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Clinics, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Dr LeDuc is a Research Associate, Department of Biostatistics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
In the Introduction, Dr. Gryskiewics writes:
“The transaxillary approach is not often discussed with patients preoperatively. In the senior author’s experience (J.G.), most patients who undergo breast augmentation (BA) wish to avoid incisions on their breasts. In general, patients have the choice among 3 types of scar patterns: inframammary, periareolar, and axillary. The transaxillary approach is not often discussed with patients preoperatively.
The transaxillary approach avoids breast incisions, but if performed without an endoscope, it requires “blind” dissection far away from the incision site. Some surgeons are unfamiliar with and intimidated by transaxillary augmentation mammaplasty (TAM) because positioning the implants can be difficult. Regardless, TAM provides another option for patients who wish to avoid breast incisions.\”
The conclusions of the article are: \”Data from this 10-year, retrospective, comparative review demonstrate that TransAxillary Breast Augmentation without an endoscope produces long-term patient satisfaction as measured by the BQ. Complication rates were similar to those of other studies. Our findings also show to a statistically significant degree that patient satisfaction is greater after TransAxillary Breast Augmentation (hidden incision) than after techniques that yield visible incisions. Clearly, the proper choice of Breast Augmentation incision can have a profoundly positive impact on a woman’s satisfaction with her breasts and with her surgical outcome, and can substantially improve Quality of Life.\”
In addition to the 3 types of scar patterns: inframammary, periareolar, and axillary mentioned above, Dr. Rodriguez is also an expert in the TransUmbilical Breast Augmentation (TUBA), that offers properly selected patients an additional option to avoid visible scars. Clearly, the proper choice of Breast Augmentation incision can have a profoundly positive impact on a woman’s satisfaction with her breasts and with her surgical outcome, and can substantially improve Quality of Life.
