Mentor Extra 295 cc Implants with Moderate-High Projection for a Postpartum Woman with an Abnormal Chest Structure
Ms. XT, born in 1988, 1.57 m tall and weighing 57 kg, desired a natural breast shape that was proportionate to her body. Upon examination, the surgeon noted a central concavity of the chest, protrusion of the upper half of the thoracic cage, and glandular tissue concentrated mainly in the lower half of the breasts.
These are factors that need to be evaluated before implant selection and pocket creation.
How Was Ms. XT’s Breast Condition Before Surgery?
Through direct examination, the surgeon noted 3 main characteristics:
- A central concavity of the chest, with soft tissue in the cleavage area and a tendency for the breasts to join medially, requiring attention to the risk of developing “pseudo-symmastia.”
- Protrusion of the upper half of the thoracic cage, requiring appropriate breast implant selection and creation of an implant pocket that distributes pressure evenly to avoid the risk of implant bottoming out and lateral displacement.
- The glandular tissue was concentrated mainly in the lower half, resulting in uneven tissue distribution between the upper and lower poles of the breasts.
With these characteristics, breast augmentation should not be based solely on breast implant size. The surgeon needs to assess the overall anatomical structure before determining the implant size, projection, and boundaries of the implant pocket.
What Is Pseudo-Symmastia?
Pseudo-symmastia is a condition in which the appearance of the area between the two breasts gives the impression that the two sides are abnormally close together or joined, but it needs to be distinguished from true symmastia after breast augmentation. In individuals with a central concavity of the chest and particular soft-tissue characteristics in the cleavage area, the pre-existing anatomy may make the cleavage appear narrower. Therefore, the surgeon needs to distinguish the body’s pre-existing characteristics from changes caused by the process of creating the implant pocket.
Why Should Breast Implants Not Be Selected Based Solely on the Number of cc?
The number of cc represents the implant volume but does not fully reflect the implant shape or how well it fits the patient’s body.
When selecting breast implants, the surgeon must also consider the implant base diameter, projection, chest width, glandular tissue coverage, tissue expandability, chest shape, and the patient’s desired breast shape.
What Method Was Used for Ms. XT’s Breast Augmentation?
Ms. XT’s breast augmentation was performed with the assistance of an Ultrasonic Surgical Scalpel during point dissection and implant pocket creation.
In a case involving a central concavity of the chest and protrusion of the upper thoracic cage, implant pocket creation needs to be based on the actual structure of each area rather than applying a fixed pocket size. In particular, the surgeon needs to control the medial boundary of the implant pocket in order to preserve the tissue structures in the cleavage area in accordance with the patient’s anatomy.
Breast implant size selected by Ms. XT
*Right breast: Mentor Extra 295 cc, moderate-high projection
*Left breast: Mentor Extra 295 cc, moderate-high projection
*Wore a surgical bra immediately after surgery
*No need to take painkillers or antibiotics after surgery.
Ms. XT, born in 1988, 1.57 m tall and weighing 57 kg, desired a natural breast shape that was proportionate to her body. Upon examination, the surgeon noted a central concavity of the chest, protrusion of the upper half of the thoracic cage, and glandular tissue concentrated mainly in the lower half of the breasts. […]
