Oncoplastic breast surgery to prevent "Bird's beak" deformity in the breast: a comparative retrospective study

Abstract

Purposes: Breast deformity occurring in the lower pole after breast conserving surgery (BCS) is known as bird's beak (BB) deformity. This retrospective study evaluated the outcomes in breasts reconstructed with a conventional closing procedure (CCP) and a downward-moving procedure (DMP), respectively, after BCS.

Methods: In CCP, the inferomedial and inferolateral portions of breast tissues were reapproximated toward the midline after wide excision to repair the breast defect. In DMP, the retro-areolar breast tissue was detached from the nipple-areolar complex after wide excision, and the upper pole breast tissue was moved downward to refill the breast defect.

Results: CCP was performed in 20 patients (Group A), and DMP was performed in 28 patients (Group B). Although retraction of the lower part of the breast was postoperatively observed in 13 (72%) of 18 patients from Group A, it was observed in 7 (28%) of 25 patients in Group B (p < 0.05). The downward pointing of the nipple was observed in 8 (44%) of 18 patients from Group A and in 4 (16%) of 25 patients in Group B (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: DMP is more useful for preventing BB deformity than CCP.

Keywords: Breast deformity; Breast-conserving surgery; Oncoplastic breast surgery; Volume displacement.