Sub-muscular Breast Augmentation Using Tumescent Local Anesthesia

BackgroundTumescent local anesthesia (TLA) consists of infiltration of saline solution with lidocaine and epinephrine into the tissues to obtain regional anesthesia and vasoconstriction. The use of TLA in augmentation mammoplasty has been described for sub-glandular positioning. We describe a modified TLA technique for primary sub-muscular breast augmentation reporting our experience during the past 7years.MethodsFrom 2010 to 2017, 300 patients underwent bilateral primary sub-muscular breast augmentation under TLA and conscious sedation. The tumescent solution was prepared with 25mL of 2% lidocaine, 8mEq of sodium bicarbonate, and 1mL of epinephrine (1mg/1mL) in 1000mL of 0.9% saline solution. Firstly, the solution was infiltrated between the pectoral fascia and the mammary gland, secondarily, during surgery, under the pectoralis major muscle.ResultsThe average amount of tumescent solution infiltrated while performing TLA was 740mL per breast. No signs of adrenaline or lidocaine toxicity were reported and conversion to general anesthesia was never required. In all patients, no pain nor discomfort was reported during the pre-operating infiltration and surgical procedure. We reported a major complication rate of 3.3% (4 hematomas and 6 seromas) and a minor complication rate of 6.0% (8 implant dislocation and 10 dystrophic scars formation).ConclusionsTLA represents a safe and efficacious technique for performing breast augmentation surgery with sub-muscular implant positioning. This technique guarantees good pain control during and after surgery and has low incidence of postoperative side effects. Patients subjected to sub-muscular breast augmentation with TLA were satisfied.Level of Evidence IVThis journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.