J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  1998 Dec;25(8):1468-1474.

The reconstruction of chest wall deformity utilizing modified costoplasty and a silicone-gel breast implant-a case report

• Kang DH
• Dhong ES
• Han SK
• Kim WK

Abstract

The chest wall and breast asymmetry varies from severe pectus deformities to an isolated breast hypoplasia. In addition to the chest abnormality, a natural-looking breast is the aesthetic challenge in women. Considering that the most common indication of operations is an aesthetic one, any procedures leaving much scars and deformities at the donor site aren't preferred by patients. A 31-year-old female had a 4 x 10 x 2.5 cm sized pectus-excavatum deformity on her right chest, and a slightly hypoplastic breast compared with the left one. The nipple of her right breast was located supero-medially and pectoralis muscles were preserved to some degree at the right side. Through a bilateral submammary and subxiphoid incision, the deformed cartilage was resected from 3th to 7th rib bilaterally and chondrotomy was done at the sternum partially. After this modified Ravitch's technique, two-metal pins were fixated between right 4th~5th ribs and left 4th rib, and the depressed sternum was elevated over the metal pins. The deficient volume of her right breast was corrected by inserting a siliconegel breast implant (120 cc) submuscularly to restore a adequately projected breast. The results of twelve months' follow-up demonstrated a symmetric and well- projected breast. There were no significant chest wall depression or capsular contracture. Restoring a fundamental bony structure would decrease the amount of augmentation needed in the soft tissues. And a silicone-gel breast implant may be used as an the alternative material for whose axillary fold is preserved to some degree.

MeSH Terms

Adult
Breast Implants
Breast*
Cartilage
Cicatrix
Congenital Abnormalities*
Contracture
Depression
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Nipples
Pectoralis Muscles
Ribs
Sternum
Thoracic Wall*
Thorax*
Tissue Donors