Anthropometric Aspects in the Breast Augmentation.

[BACKGROUND] Studies have demonstrated the importance of anthropometric measurements of the breasts, based on linear measurements for the selection of the volume of breast implants, their positioning, and surgical planning.

[OBJECTIVES] The objective of this study is to evaluate the main changes in anthropometric measurements in breast augmentation.

[METHODS] A prospective, randomized clinical study with 74 female candidates for breast augmentation. All the individuals were split into five groups, according to the implant volume. The implants used were of different textures, from three different brands (LifeSil, Politech, and Silimed). The following measures were taken: distance from the nipple to the inframammary fold (N-IMF), inter-nipple-areolar complex distance (N-N), distance from the Sternal notch to the Nipple (SN-N), areola diameter, and breast projection.

[RESULTS] The most significant breast anthropometric alteration after mammoplasty was the N-IMF distance; that is, an expansion of the lower pole of the breast, followed by an increase in the areolar diameter. Mostly of measurements showed stability between 3rd and 6th months after the surgery. The projection was the most interesting measure due to presenting two patterns of behavior according to the analysis criteria performed. When comparing the implant projection and the final breast projection, it was observed that the implant profile represented a 27% increase in the final breast projection.

[CONCLUSIONS] This study provides an essential comparative analysis between anthropometric changes in breast augmentations and serves as a predictive tool in the preoperative evaluation of the patient during surgical planning.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV] This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .