Breast Reconstruction after Modified Radical Mastectomy with Becker Permanent Tissue Expander.

Hong, Yong Taek; Yoon, Eul Sik; Choi, Kyu Jin; Dhong, Eun Sang; Son, Gil Soo

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Original Article

Journal of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons 2007;34(2):222-228.
Published online March 1, 2007.

Breast Reconstruction after Modified Radical Mastectomy with Becker Permanent Tissue Expander.

Yong Taek Hong, Eul Sik Yoon, Kyu Jin Choi, Eun Sang Dhong, Gil Soo Son

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea. yesanam2@kumc.or.kr
²Department of Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
Report of the good results of breast reconstruction using Becker permanent tissue expander that showed a short operation time and a quick post- operation recovery time, little side effects and usually superb aesthetic results without the need for additional incisions or donor site morbidity. The authors, after carrying out breast reconstruction operations using Becker permanent tissue expander on patients with appropriate indications, attempted to analyze several factors such as complication rates and patient satisfaction measurements. METHODS: 11 cases of breast reconstruction using Becker expander implants were carried out on a total of 10 patients between March 2000 and February 2003. The patients were followed up at outpatient visit for an average of 6 months.
RESULTS
The most common post-operation complication was pain resulting from saline injection into the expanders, complained by 5 patients(50%). rib fractures, skin necrosis, implant removal due to infection, and breast cancer recurrence each occurred in 1 patient (9.9%). There was no occurrence of skin contracture complications which occurs frequently in case of silicone implant insertion. Patient complacency was surveyed by patient interviews made right after the operations and during outpatient follow-up periods: 5(50%) patients out of 10 showed excellent, 3(30%) good, and 2(20%) showed fair, leaving no patients who were disappointed with operation results. On routine follow-up, 80% of patients expressed satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome of their post-mastectomy beast reconstruction.
CONCLUSION
Breast reconstruction using the Becker expander is a reliable alternative to other reconstructive methods but good patient selection is essential for satisfactory results.

Keywords: Becker tissue expander; Breast reconstruction

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