Breast Reconstruction with Simultaneous Bilateral Lumbar Artery Perforator Flaps Improves Waistline Definition and Buttock Projection.

BACKGROUND: The lumbar artery perforator (LAP) flap is a valuable secondary option for autologous breast reconstruction when abdominal donor sites are not available.

OBJECTIVES: To determine how the LAP donor site affects waistline and gluteal proportions, and whether LAP flaps may lead to potential secondary benefits concerning donor site aesthetics.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 50 patients who underwent bilateral breast reconstruction with LAP flaps (100 flaps) from 2018 - 2022 was performed. Patient characteristics and postoperative complications were recorded. Pre- and postoperative standardized frontal and lateral patient photographs were analyzed to identify postoperative changes in waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to assess waistline definition and buttock projection. The patients' individual perception of postoperative aesthetic changes to their waistline and buttocks was determined by an electronic survey.

RESULTS: The patients had a mean age of 51 (24 - 63 years) and a mean BMI of 26.9 kg/m2 (19.3 - 37.4 kg/m2). Postoperative donor site complications included seromas (n = 10), wound dehiscence (n = 5), hematomas (n = 4), and wound infections (n = 2). Flap loss rate was 2%. After reconstruction, patients were found to have a more defined waistline, indicated by a significantly decreased WHR on frontal images (0.85 ± 0.05 vs. 0.80 ± 0.05, P < 0.005) and a more projected buttocks indicated by a significant reduction in WHR on lateral images (0.92 ± 0.07 vs. 0.87 ± 0.07, P < 0.0001). Among the patients who responded to the survey, 73 % indicated that their waistline had aesthetically improved, 6.7 % felt it had not changed, and 20 % felt that it had worsened. An aesthetic improvement of the buttocks was reported by 53 %; 40 % felt their buttocks had not changed, and 6.7 % felt their buttocks appearance had worsened.

CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral LAP flap breast reconstruction leads to improved waistline definition and buttock projection bringing patients closer to ideal aesthetic proportions. This reconstructive approach is ideal for patients that are not candidates for abdominal free flaps, however, demonstrate excess flank tissue and seek a more defined waistline and projected buttocks.