Thanks to Gina for sending the following article...Myrl
New Decision-Making System Lowers Breast Augmentation Re-Operation Rate
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL -- November 10, 2004 -- Plastic surgeons can
reduce breast implant re-operations in augmentation patients to 3
percent by
following a new system of decision and management algorithms, according
to a study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery=AE (PRS), the
official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
(ASPS). At the same time, these algorithms can raise patients' safety
and overall satisfaction, the study also found.
During the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel
hearings on silicone breast implants in October 2003, panelists
expressed concern about the manufacturer's re****ted 20 percent
re-operation rate for silicone breast implants.
"Although plastic surgeons began to use saline implants after silicone
implants were banned by the FDA, the re-operation rates for primary
breast augmentation have remained largely unchanged for more than a
decade," said John Tebbetts, MD, ASPS member and study author. "We
originally created these algorithms to help manage potential problems
and educate patients about the benefits and risks of breast
augmentation. What we also found was that the algorithms significantly
reduced the rate of re-operation, increased patient safety and made
patients happier about the results of their procedure."
Directly responding to the FDA's concerns, a group of board-certified
plastic surgeons formed the Breast Augmentation Surgeons for Patients
Initiative (BAPSI). They adopted the algorithms from Dr. Tebbetts'
practice and expanded them to address a number of clinical situations,
including re-operations to change the size of implant, capsular
contracture, infection, implant displacement and silent rupture of
silicone implants.
According to the study, using algorithms, step-by-step problem-solving
procedures for surgical situations, reduced the overall re-operation
rate to 3 percent in 1,662 re****ted cases over seven years. The
algorithms measure five critical characteristics to help determine the
right implant and procedure for the patient: base width of the breast
tissue, degree of stretch, nipple-to-fold distance, implant dimensions
and how the implant will sit within the breast.
"These algorithms have been shown to reduce unnecessary re-operations,
such as exchanging implants for larger ones, by providing plastic
surgeons with comprehensive guidelines for successful and safe
surgeries and providing patients with more definitive information about
the risks and benefits," said Dr. Tebbetts.
"In addition, rather than reinventing the wheel each time similar
problems occur, these algorithms have provided us with a set of
standards that are designed to help produce optimal results and ensure
patient safety," said Dr. Tebbetts.
More than 254,000 women had breast augmentation in 2003, making it the
second most popular cosmetic plastic surgery procedure for women,
according to the ASPS. Since 2000, the procedure has grown in
popularity by 20 percent.
SOURCE: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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