The Impact of Botulinum Toxin Injection on the Outcomes of Breast Surgeries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

[BACKGROUND] Breast surgeries aim to restore the natural appearance of the breasts with acceptable functional and cosmetic outcomes. However, these surgical procedures may be associated with considerable adverse events. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to reveal the functional and aesthetic outcomes of botulinum toxins (BTX) injection in patients subjected to breast surgeries.

[METHODS] A literature review was performed up to 21 September 2022. All clinical studies included patients older than 18 years old and treated with BTX injection for breast surgeries were included.

[RESULTS] The present study included 12 articles, encompassing 496 patients. The average dosage of BTX injection ranged from 20 to 100 units. Injecting BTX significantly reduced the mean post-operative opioid analgesics usage (SMD -1.577; 95% -2.087, -1.067; P < 0.001) and the risk of severe animation deformity (RR 12.37; 95% 1.76, 86.66; P = 0.01). There was a statistically significant higher mean expansion volume per visit in the BTX injection group (SMD 1.166; 95% 0.313, 2.018; P = 0.007). There was no statistically significant impact of BTX injection on the risk of surgical site infection (RR 0.59; 95% 0.15, 2.34; P = 0.45) and seroma (RR 0.51; 95% 0.03, 10.15; P = 0.66).

[CONCLUSIONS] The present study revealed the potential benefits of BTX injection in breast surgeries. This included reduced post-operative analgesics, as well as the risk of severe animation deformity. This was accomplished with increased expansion volume per visit and a similar risk of BTX injection-related complications.

[LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III] 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 .