Endoscopically assisted aesthetic augmentation of tuberous breasts and fat grafting to correct the double bubble.

Background: Treatment of tuberous breasts types 1 and 2 must deal with the problem of the pseudo-double bubble in the primitive inframammary fold and also must release the constrictive ring. Two techniques currently are used to overcome these problems, but neither is entirely satisfactory. The first technique, in which the approach is via the primitive inframammary fold, leaves significant scarring when the lower poles expand. The second technique, in which the approach is periareolar, considerably reduces the area's sensitivity. This report presents a new endoscopically assisted technique with an axillary approach designed to solve these problems.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2010, 68 patients (ages 18-42 years) underwent surgery. The intervention was bilateral in 57 and unilateral in 11 of these patients. All cases involved tuberous breasts types 1 and 2 (Grolleau's classification). The augmentation involves a transaxillary subfascial endoscopic approach, opening of the fascia at the primitive inframammary fold, and releasing of the constricting ring to enable the breast to expand, followed by implantation of an anatomic prosthesis to add volume to the lower quadrants. If the pseudo-double bubble appears, fat grafting is applied during the same surgical procedure.

Results: The results were reported to be highly satisfactory both by the patients and by the independent medical team. For six patients (8.82 %), fat grafting had to be repeated in the double bubble. No major complications were reported.

Conclusion: The endoscopically assisted subfascial breast augmentation technique obtains highly satisfactory results in tuberous breasts types 1 and 2 (Grolleau's classification). The single scar is concealed in the axillary fold.

Level Of Evidence Iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article.