CORRECTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL BREAST ABNORMALITIES WITH A PERMANENT EXPANDER IMPLANT/

Patients with developmental breast abnormalities often present to the plastic surgeon at a young age. We report our experience with 4 cases of unilateral breast abnormality (3 hypoplastic and 1 tuberous) treate d with a Becker permanent expander/implant. Our approach is to insert the expander/implant, expand intermittently to keep pace with growth o f the other breast and remove the filling valve under local anaesthesi a on maturity. The techniques and advantages of this approach are illu strated and discussed.