Can a Breast Augmentation Procedure Improve the Appearance of Pectus Excavatum Deformity in Female Patients? A Prospective Study.

[BACKGROUND] This study evaluates a specific breast augmentation (BA) technique in patients with pectus excavatum(PE) and its results in improving this deformity, augmenting the breasts, and correcting the concurrent breast asymmetry.

[METHODS] Twenty-eight patients with PE were treated from 2017 to 2021. All patients who visited our private practice were aiming to augment their breasts, correct their breast asymmetry, and improve their PE. The mean age of the patients was 25 years. In most cases, the submuscular dual-plane technique was chosen. Patients' quality of life regarding their chest wall deformity was assessed using the Single Step Questionnaire (SSQ). Subjects' quality of life regarding general self-esteem, psychosocial well-being, and physical function were assessed at initial screening and 24-month follow-up using the BREAST-Q V2 questionnaire. Also, patients filled out a pain-evaluating questionnaire concerning the first 5 postoperative days to determine the recovery of this specific technique.

[RESULTS] No complications were observed. The SSQ revealed high satisfaction (mean score=73) and significant ( = 0.001) improvement following the operation. The improvements regarding psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, and satisfaction with the BREAST-Q were also equally high ( = 0.001). The pain was minimal during the first five postoperative days. This is the first prospective study that evaluates the quality of life using both the SSQ, the validated BREAST-Q, and the pain score when performing BA in patients with PE and breast asymmetry using breast silicone implants.

[CONCLUSIONS] BA is a procedure that can give excellent results both regarding chest wall deformity and BA in PE patients.