Breast operative technique for single-stage reconstruction after conservative skin sparing and nipple sparing mastectomies: a preliminary study

The Authors present a novel technique of immediate breast reconstruction with definite implants after mastectomy conserving the nipple- areola complex and, less frequently, in skin-sparing mastectomy. The increase of indications for both oncologic and prophylactic nipple-sparing mastectomy has induced the research for a single-stage technique that could replace the two-stage reconstruction with expanders and/or autogenous reconstructions with flaps. The new techniques introduce modifications of the pocket coverage for the implants occurring in two ways: i) autologous adaptation of muscle-fascia-fat-skin layers, ii) application of alloplastic materials as the meshes. A series of 124 immediate reconstructions were performed from 2008 to 2011 using a continuous composite pocket made of pectoralis maior and serratus anterior muscle above, and skin-fat flap below. The innovation is represented by an extended electrosurgical scoring of the lower pole of the mammary pocket at two levels. The first is the deep-fascia and muscle layer; the second is the superfiacial fascial system. This operative technique represents an advancement of a prior procedure described by the Authors in 1998. This preliminary study would primarily describe the technique step by step. Discussion debates about alternative techniques in terms of either surgical details of technique or cosmetic results are still to be reached.