Background: Breast augmentation with implants is commonly performed among East Asians, yet few studies have analyzed how breast morphology changes postoperatively. This study aims to evaluate these changes in this population. Methods: This was a single-surgeon retrospective review of East Asian female patients undergoing primary endoscopic transaxillary breast augmentation from 2019-2024 using the same profiled silicone implants. Patients with massive weight loss or breast ptosis were excluded. Measurements included suprasternal notch to nipple (SN), nipple to inframammary fold (NF), base diameter (BD), areola height (AH) and width (AW), taken manually preoperatively and postoperatively at one week, one month, three months, six months, and one year. Paired t-test compared average measurements and change. Results: 184 breasts (92 patients) were analyzed. Average increase in absolute measurement and percent change (regardless of implant size) between preoperative measurement and one year was: SN = 1.4cm (7.7%), NF = 2.3cm (42.6%), BD = 0.4cm (3.2%), AH = 0.7cm (26.6%), AW = 0.7cm (21.4%). At one year, all measurements except BD showed significant changes from preoperative values. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that in primary transaxillary breast augmentation in East Asians, placing implants of any volume that match the native base diameter results in outward anterior expansion, with preferential lower pole distension over time and minimal change in breast footprint. The upper pole stretches less than the lower, while the nipple remains stable to the chest wall within the first year. These data offer insights into the breast’s natural morphology and postoperative course, aiding future augmentation consultations.
Lin et al. (Fri,) studied this question.