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The Evolution of Breast Reconstruction: A Historical Perspective

World Journal of Surgery volume 36, pages 730–742 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Plastic surgeons have been performing operations to improve the aesthetic aspect of the breast for centuries. Throughout ancient times, great controversy produced many theories of how breast cancer occurred and the best treatment. Because of beliefs that closure of mastectomy sites could conceal tumor recurrence, breast reconstruction did not gain wide acceptance until the mid-1900s. Today, plastic surgeons have a variety of techniques to reconstruct the breast. The first autologous muscle flap for breast reconstruction was the latissimus dorsi myocutaneous flap, described in 1896 by Iginio Tansini. The introduction of Carl Hartrampf’s transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap and Robert J. Allen’s deep inferior epigastric perforator flap have also provided excellent reconstructive options. With regard to augmentation, Vincenz Czerny attempted to enhance a woman’s breast in 1895 with implantation of a lumbar lipoma. Soon after, surgeons used paraffin injections and polyvinylic alcohol sponge implantation, which yielded disastrous results. In 1961, Thomas Cronin and Frank Gerow promoted the first silicone implant, paving the way for today’s silicone and saline prototypes. Although reduction mammaplasty techniques had originated centuries earlier than mastopexy methods, the advancements of both have largely paralleled one another. In 1949, the Wise pattern was introduced to preoperatively plan safer and predictable outcomes in breast reductions. Efforts to minimize scars were achieved with Claude Lassus’ introduction and Madeleine Lejour’s subsequent modification of the vertical scar mammaplasty. In hopes of fostering an understanding of current post-mastectomy procedures and instilling passion for innovating future techniques, we provide a near-complete, surgically focused historical account of the primary contributors to breast reconstruction.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the staff of the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library at Yale University for providing access to several obscure references. Online translating programs such as Reverso and Babylon 9 were used for the purposes of this manuscript.

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None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to disclose.

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  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11175 Campus Street, Suite 21126, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA

    Manish C. Champaneria, Wendy W. Wong, Michael E. Hill & Subhas C. Gupta

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  1. Manish C. Champaneria
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  2. Wendy W. Wong
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Correspondence to Manish C. Champaneria.

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Champaneria, M.C., Wong, W.W., Hill, M.E. et al. The Evolution of Breast Reconstruction: A Historical Perspective. World J Surg 36, 730–742 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-012-1450-2

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Keywords

  • Breast Reconstruction
  • Myocutaneous Flap
  • Free Tissue Transfer
  • Reduction Mammaplasty
  • Latissimus Dorsi Flap