Before and after bilateral breast reconstruction revision with liposuction of the axillary rolls in a 71-year-old woman. She had previously undergone bilateral mastectomies, prepectoral implant reconstruction, chemotherapy and left breast and chest wall radiation. She was active, fit and healthy enough to have surgery, despite her numerical age.
The radiation had caused her left implant to sit up too high, feel tight and cause deformity. She wanted to be a little smaller and have better symmetry of her reconstruction results.
Her revision involved bilateral capsulectomy and implant exchange – the last image shows the intraoperative surgical plan. Each implant was downsized by around 200 cc, and a lift of the right non-radiated breast allowed it to better match the left radiated breast, which sat up higher due to skin contraction and post-radiation fibrosis.
In the last picture, the right breast skin is “tailor-tacked” into the planned position to ensure symmetry with the left breast while the upper body positioned upright in a sitting position. This is a standard maneuver for all Plastic Surgery procedures where symmetry is the goal.
Liposuction removed excess fat from her armpits and bra rolls. Long-term follow up photos are shown 10 years after surgery, with an enduring aesthetic result for this breast cancer survivor.
*All photos are actual patient photographs and are for illustrative purposes only. Individual results may vary.
