A qualitative study on the experiences of women undergoing surgery for developmental breast asymmetry.

Background: Developmental breast asymmetry (DBA) is a largely underreported condition where the natural growth of one breast is smaller than the other. While some degree of asymmetry or difference in size and shape is present in most women, DBA can result in more profound differences that can impact a woman's psychosocial well-being.

Objectives: This study aims to better understand the experiences of women living with DBA, their experiences seeking treatment, and their reconstructive surgical journey and outcomes.

A comparison of reconstructive outcomes following rotation flap approach (RoFA) versus standard mastectomy: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The rotation flap approach (RoFA) mastectomy is a skin-sparing technique that actively imports skin to the centre of the skin envelope and therefore aids in achieving natural ptosis to the reconstructed breast. The objective of this study was to compare clinical outcomes, aesthetics, patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life between the ROFA mastectomy and standard mastectomy approach.

Methods: This study is a prospective randomised controlled trial of participants undergoing mastectomy using either the RoFA technique or standard technique with breast reconstruction.

Normative data for the BREAST-Q Reconstruction module in an Australian population and comparison with US norms and breast reconstruction patient outcomes.

Background: Normative data for interpreting the BREAST-Q reconstruction module are currently limited to the US population. This study aimed to generate normative BREAST-Q data from women in the Australian general population and compare it to US norms. Secondary aims were to compare normative scores to those of women undergoing breast reconstruction post-mastectomy.

Does nipple-areolar tattooing matter in breast reconstruction? A cohort study using the BREAST-Q.

Background: Breast reconstruction is achieved through a series of surgical procedures often concluded with nipple-areolar reconstruction tattoo. The purpose of the tattoo is to increase the patients' satisfaction with the appearance of the breast, however, no published studies quantitatively compare patient satisfaction before vs. after tattoo.

Determinants of breast reconstruction outcome: How important is volume symmetry?

Breast reconstruction has established psychosocial benefit compared to mastectomy alone. Evaluation of determinants of breast reconstruction outcome has previously been limited by lack of high quality, condition-specific, patient-reported outcomes measures. The BREAST-Q is such a measure and is well suited to comparison against objective measurements of reconstructed breasts such as volume and volume symmetry.