Complication Rates for Simultaneous Versus Staged Combined Procedures of Breast Augmentation and Breast Lift

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Arlington Heights, Ill. - Breast lift surgery and breast augmentation with implants can safely be performed in a single procedure, according to a report in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). "With appropriate patient selection and a carefully planned operative approach, our data demonstrates a one-stage procedure can be safely performed with acceptable complication and reoperation rates," concludes the study by ASPS Member Surgeon Michael Bradley Calobrace, MD, of Louisville, Ky., and colleagues.

However,the overall complication rate for women undergoing simultaneous breast lift / breast augmentation procedures was about 23 percent. The most common complications were hardening (contracture) of the capsule around the implant, scarring and recurrent ptosis (drooping) of the breasts. More severe complications such as significant asymmetry, nipple loss, nipple numbness and implant exposure are also more prevalent with this combined approach. Milder degrees of ptosis may be treated with Dr. Lewis Obi’s scarless laser breast lift in conjunction with breast augmentation. Also, the high rate of 23 percent complication rate is unacceptable to Dr. Obi and with most patients.

ABOVE PATIENTS WITH LASER LIFT AND IMPLANTS (ancillary laser to abdomen)

Dr. Michael Bradley Calobrace’s article was well prepared and included a large patient population. He is commended for his carefully planned and executed study. However, there have been a wealth of similar studies in both major plastic surgery journals that reflect the opposite philosophy of performing staged procedures. Most plastic surgeons, like Dr. Lewis Obi, will adjust their fees so that the sum total cost for a staged approach results in fees not too different than a combined approach. Also the one in four patients that do have complications secondary to a combined breast lift/breast augmentation procedure may have complications that are very difficult to correct.

FULL BREAST LIFT WITH DELAYED INSERTION OF IMPLANTS

For information regarding one of Dr. Lewis Obi’s approach to the condition of deficient breast volume complicated by breast ptosis (sag), refer to our home page and photo gallery.