Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery

1. Khouri, RK, Schlenz, I, Murphy, BJ, Baker, TJ. Nonsurgical breast enlargement using an external soft tissue expansion system. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000;105(7):2500-2514.

Summary: This medical journal article outlines the results from the initial clinical study that were reviewed by the FDA.

You can view the abstract of the above article, Nonsurgical breast enlargement using an external soft tissue expansion system, on-line by visiting The United States National Library of Medicine's web site at www.nlm.nih.gov. Select "HEALTH INFORMATION", then select "MEDLINE/PubMed". You will see a search field with "Pub/Med" entered, you will need to enter the author's name after "for". Type in KHOURI and click on "GO". Scroll down the listings on page one and select page 3. The abstract is referenced by the title as shown above. Double click on the authors of the article and the abstract can be viewed on-screen.

2. DeFillippo RE, Atala A., Stretch and Growth: The molecular and physiological influences of tissue expansion. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Jun; 109(7):2450-62.

Summary: Dr. DeFillippo and Dr. Atala from Harvard University explain how stretch influences lasting tissue growth.

3. Greco RJ, Nonsurgical breast enhancement -- fact or fiction? Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Jul; 110(1):337-9.

Summary: Dr. Richard Greco, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Savannah, Georgia, conducted an independent study on The Brava System and this article summarizes his findings.

4. Smith, CJ. Initial experience with the Brava Non-Surgical System of Breast Enhancement [letter].

To obtain a reprint of any of the above articles* in their entirety, Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Nov; 110 (6):1594-1595

Khouri, RK, Baker, TJ. Reviewers. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002 Nov; 110 (6):1594-1595. Review of Smith, CJ. Initial experience with the Brava Non-Surgical System of Breast Enhancement.

Summary: Dr. Curran J. Smith, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon in Seattle, Washington, conducted an independent review of the Brava System after the initial 6 months of use in his practice. Dr. Smith discusses his success on a patient with slight asymmetry of the right breast.

Following Dr. Smith's letter is a reply from Dr. Roger Khouri and Dr. Thomas J. Baker that addresses Dr. Smith's issues of proper patient selection. Drs. Khouri and Baker help to profile the ideal Brava candidate.

5. Schlenz, I., Kaider, A., The Brava External Tissue Expander: Is Breast Enlargement without Surgery a Reality? Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007 Nov; 120 (6): 1680-1689.

Summary: Dr. Schlenz and Ms. Kaider revisit the original Khouri, et al, study published in 2000 (see 1. above).

Controlled trials have shown that an external breast tissue expander (Brava; Brava LLC Miami, Fla.) can effectively enlarge the breast without surgery. However, satisfaction with the results has varied among doctors and patients. The first author critically evaluated her clinical experience with Brava and attempted to identify factors associated with a successful outcome.

Using a larger sample and a longer monitoring period, the study confirms and exceeds the results realized in the previous study.

You can view the abstract by using this link.

Please send a written request (be sure to specify which article) to:

Brava, LLC
Marketing/Reprint Request
14221 SW 142 Street
Miami, FL 33186

Please include a self-addressed 9 x 12 envelope and allow 2 to 4 weeks for processing. Please one copy per written request. Additional copies may be obtained by contacting Lippincott Williams and Wilkins (LWW) at http://www.lww.com.