Pilot Study shows Botulinum Toxin A does work in Breast Reconstruction Surgery
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Botulinum Toxin A
Botulinum toxin A is shown to work efficiently in Breast Reconstruction Surgeries according to a study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. Botulinum Toxin A is a great option to suppress muscle mobility temporary during a a expander-baser reconstruction, a really painful and discomfortable procedure. The use of the neurotoxin seems to relax the muscle making the reconstructive period much more tolerable. Let’s be more specific.
The study examined 30 patients that went through a breast reconstruction surgery. 15 of them (the first group) had 4 Botulinum Toxin A injections (the famous Allergan’s Botox) into the pectoralis major muscle while the second group (placebo, the other 15 patients) had 4 0.9% NaCl injections. All 30 patients were thoroughly followed for the next 12 months. The results were interesting.
The VAS (visual analog score) score was essentialy different for the two groups indicating decreased pain in patients that received the Botox injections. In addition the expansion volume in patients that received the neurotoxin was significantly higher comparing to the placebo patients. Finally the neurotoxin patients had an important decrease in the use of narcotics in the period between the 7th and 45th day post surgery. The final important conclusion was that no increased side effects were connected with the Botox use.
The lead author of the study, Allen Gabriel MD, summarizes the findings: “Immediate or delayed reconstruction cases can be plagued with pain from the direct pressure that the expander exerts onto the muscle. The toxin in this case helps by relaxing the muscle and making the reconstructive period more tolerable, especially during the expansion phase.” Finally Dr. Gabriel gives an even more interesting view: “The principle of muscle relaxation can be utilized in any implant based surgical cases, where the pectoralis major is elevated. This applies to both reconstructive and cosmetic breast surgery cases.”
