title: Delay between expansion and expander/implant exchange in breast reconstruction--a prospective study.
abstract: It has been suggested that delay between expansion and insertion of the definitive prosthesis in breast reconstruction reduces the incidence of adverse capsular contracture. We have carried out a prospective trial to examine this hypothesis. 65 patients were randomly allocated into two groups; in one, insertion of the definitive prosthesis was 2 weeks following expansion ("immediate") and in the other, 6 months ("delayed"). The incidence of adverse capsular contracture assessed both by the Baker Scale and a linear analogue scale showed no difference between the two groups. A new objective method for measuring ptosis using a specially designed template is described. The degree of ptosis was not affected by the delay.
authors.affiliation: Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit, University of Bradford.
authors.forename: I T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Sharpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013997:Time Factors; D015626:Tissue Expansion; D015625:Tissue Expansion Devices