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Anthropometry of the Breast Region: How to Measure?

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Abstract

Background

Breast region measurements are important for research, but they may also become significant in the legal field as a quantitative tool for preoperative and postoperative evaluation. Direct anthropometric measurements can be taken in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to compare direct breast anthropometric measurements taken with a tape measure and a compass.

Methods

Forty women, aged 18–60 years, were evaluated. They had 14 anatomical landmarks marked on the breast region and arms. The union of these points formed eight linear segments and one angle for each side of the body. The volunteers were evaluated by direct anthropometry in a standardized way, using a tape measure and a compass.

Results

Differences were found between the tape measure and the compass measurements for all segments analyzed (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Measurements obtained by tape measure and compass are not identical. Therefore, once the measurement tool is chosen, it should be used for the pre- and postoperative measurements in a standardized way.

Level of Evidence IV

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Funding

There was no funding received for this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plastic Surgery Division, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Rua Napoleão de Barros, 715, 4° andar, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, SP, 04023-002, Brazil

    Paulo R. Quieregatto, Bernardo Hochman, Soraia F. Ferrara, Fabianne Furtado, Richard E. Liebano, Miguel Sabino Neto & Lydia M. Ferreira

Authors
  1. Paulo R. Quieregatto
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  2. Bernardo Hochman
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  3. Soraia F. Ferrara
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  4. Fabianne Furtado
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  5. Richard E. Liebano
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  6. Miguel Sabino Neto
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  7. Lydia M. Ferreira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernardo Hochman.

Additional information

Study conducted at the Graduate Program in Plastic Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

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Quieregatto, P.R., Hochman, B., Ferrara, S.F. et al. Anthropometry of the Breast Region: How to Measure?. Aesth Plast Surg 38, 344–349 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-014-0291-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-014-0291-9

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