Keller Funnel Efficacy in “No Touch” Breast Augmentation and Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

Background:

Breast augmentation is one of the most common aesthetic surgical procedures. Tissue expansion followed by permanent implants is the most frequent postmastectomy breast reconstruction method. Implant contamination remains a critical problem with these procedures‚ resulting in acute infection as well as capsular contracture. To reduce the risk of implant contamination, the “no-touch technique” utilizing the Keller funnel has been adopted by many surgeons. This systematic review aims to investigate the advantages of the Keller funnel method for breast augmentation–reconstruction.

Methods:

A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane database, and Google Scholar was performed between 2005 and 2021. All clinical-based, retrospective and prospective studies utilizing the Keller funnel method for breast implant insertion were selected.

Results:

Six studies were identified for evaluation: five were retrospective cohorts and one was a prospective trial. No randomized controlled trials were found. Outcomes reported included lower rates of capsular contracture (RR, 0.42; P = 0.0006; 95% CI, 0.25–0.69), shorter incision lengths (35.5 ± 2.1 mm), less insertion time (mean = 6 seconds), and decreased complications, and one paper reported ultimately greater patient satisfaction with outcomes (BREAST-Q Score: 92%).

Conclusions:

This review suggests that the Keller funnel is a useful method for no-touch breast augmentation and reconstruction surgery. The Keller funnel reduces subsequent capsular contracture rate, surgical time, and incision length and allows for easier insertion. However, our findings support recommendation of a prospective randomized controlled clinical trial with larger population size and follow-up intervals.