title: Three-dimensional evaluation of breast contour and volume changes following subpectoral augmentation mammaplasty over 6 months.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Changes in breast-morphology occur after all types of breast surgery, but a systematic and objective surgical result assessment is currently lacking. Three-dimensional (3-D) surface imaging offers the ability to quantitatively evaluate breast contour, shape, surface and volume changes after surgery. This study evaluates 3-D breast contour and volume changes after breast augmentation over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  3-D surface imaging of 14 subpectoral breast-augmentation patients (n = 28 breasts) were accomplished over six time periods (preoperative (OP), post-OP 1: 2-3 days; post-OP 2: 1 week; post-OP 3: 1 month; post-OP 4: 3 months; and post-OP 5: 6 months after surgery) and linear-distance measurement, breast volume and surface changes were analysed. 3-D breast-contour- and volume variations are expressed in percentage changes over time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All breast measurements changed significantly between pre-OP and post-OP 1 (Friedmann test, p = 0.001-0.025). First significant postoperative changes over time compared with post-OP 1 for breast volume, surface, sternal notch to nipple and nipple to inframammary-fold-distance measurements are quantifiable after 1 month (post hoc Wilcoxon test, p = 0.001 for all) with further relevant breast volume (post hoc Wilcoxon test, p = 0.041) and surface changes (post hoc Wilcoxon test, p = 0.037) between months 1 and 3 after surgery. The inframammary fold dropped by 1.4 cm after 6 months and final breast volume ± 0.5% is reached between months 1 and 3 after surgery. Valuable reductions in breast contour and volume by nearly 85% are also reached after 1 month (Wilcoxon test, p = 0.001) and changed to 98% after 3 months and 100% after 6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Breast morphological changes following subpectoral breast augmentation are completed after 3 months. 3-D surface imaging may play a part in comparing different breast-augmentation techniques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery and Hand Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, München, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eder
authors.forename: Fee
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: v Waldenfels
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sichtermann
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: Nikolaos A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Papadopulos
authors.forename: Hans-Günther
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Machens
authors.forename: Edgar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biemer
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010781:Photography; D011184:Postoperative Period; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012984:Software