Objective Clinical Assessment of Posture Patterns after Implant Breast Augmentation

Abstract

Background:An increased weight of the breasts causes several spinal postural alterations that reduce the ability to perform dynamic tasks requiring a stable balance. The effects of the increased weight of the breasts on static posture after implant breast augmentation have not been investigated yet.Methods:Forty volunteer healthy women were asked to wear different sized breast implants (800, 400, and 300 g) inside a dedicated sports bra for 6½ consecutive hours during their everyday life activities, 1 day for every implant size. Posture changes were assessed with the association of a physiatric clinical examination with a static force platform analysis.Results:A significant increase in cervical lordosis after the use of 400-g breast implants and upward was demonstrated. This alteration was stable between the 400-g and 800-g breast implants. The 400-g (per breast) implant might therefore be the load threshold that breaks the cervical postural physiologic balance. A significant increase in lumbar lordosis was demonstrated only after the use of the 800-g breast implants. The static force platform assessment demonstrated a worsening of the balance independent from the visual control with the use of 400-g and 800-g implants.Conclusions:Heavy breast implants proved to induce reversible alterations in the spinal curve, and 400 g is the cutoff for functional physiologic compensation in the short term. Such a weight might be considered the safety limit for the use of breast implants for cosmetic purposes.

Physical Effects of Unilateral Mastectomy on Spine Deformity

“…3 The change in body posture after mastectomy due to the weight differences after losing a breast has also been investigated by several groups. 19 Bak et al 20 showed a change in body posture in women after mastectomy as compared with healthy women; however, they did not find any significant correlation between the mastectomy side and the direction of asymmetry in body posture.…”

“…3 The weight of breasts has an effect on the center of gravity of women, causing a change in body posture. 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8] One of the expected outcomes of mastectomy, therefore, is long-term postural changes. There are, indeed, several studies in the literature proving the change in body posture in women after mastectomy.…”

Alteration in skeletal posture between breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap and mastectomy: a prospective comparison study

“…An extremely large breast size may lead to difficulties in daily life and studies have demonstrated that physical weight and psychological factors may cause an altered skeletal posture (1)(2)(3). Moreover, many studies have reported that having both breasts is important in maintaining a center of gravity and stable posture (4)(5)(6). In the treatment of unilateral breast cancer, oncological safety is the primary goal; however, breast reconstruction surgery to esthetically resemble the natural look of the contralateral healthy breast is also essential.…”

Impact of mastectomy for breast cancer on spinal curvature: Considerations when treating patients with scoliosis

“…Rather, our observations and previous findings highlight the need for the awareness of potential risks involved when one's center of gravity is disrupted, particularly for those with an existing spinal abnormality. One recent study found that wearing a breast implant inside a dedicated sports bra can induce reversible changes in spinal curvature 13 …”