A Novel Method for Intraoperative Breast Implant Pocket Assessment: Air Augmentation

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. are numerous preoperative and intraoperative techniques and devices to determine the ideal implant volume [1], it can be challenging to evaluate pocket preparation accurately. Herein, we describe a new method of elegantly assessing the extent and quality of implant pocket dissection intraoperatively. An ideal implant pocket is defined by having a size adequate to fit the chosen prosthesis snugly without being too small, resulting in a distorted implant shape, or being too big, potentially leading to dislocation [2]. To determine if the implant pocket has been dissected sufficiently, we developed a novel technique based on temporally trapping air within the pocket. Employing this air augmentation method allows the progress of pocket preparation to be assessed accurately without substantial technical effort, and provides the opportunity for modifications based on the desired implant volume. Furthermore, it enables the surgeon to judge the edges of the implant pocket, making it a fast and inexpensive technique for assessing the symmetry and extent of the pocket shape. Using the air augmentation technique, the surgeon is able to check for potential instances of adherence, unevenly dissected edges, and boxiness of the implant pocket before moving forward with breast implant placement. By simply inserting the index and middle finger into the inframammary wound, lifting up his or her hand, and quickly lowering it again air can be trapped into the dissected cavity via a vacuum effect (Fig. 1). The size and shape of the inflated pocket can be evaluated easily (Supplemental Video S1). This is especially helpful in judging the extent of medial release of the muscle and the boxiness of the lateral extent of the implant pocket. The inflated air Received: 28 Dec 2016 • Revised: 5 Feb 2017 • Accepted: 6 Feb 2017 pISSN: 2234-6163 • eISSN: 2234-6171 https://doi.org/10.5999/aps.2017.44.4.354 • Arch Plast Surg 2017;44:354-355