Superior Pedicle Reduction Mammoplasty Supported with Inferior Pedicle Chest Wall-Based Flap: Refinements to the Technique

• Published in: Aesthetic plastic surgery 2015-02, Vol.39 (1), p.69-77
• Main Authors: Öksüz, Sinan, Ülkür, Ersin, Peker, Fatih
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Humans; Mammaplasty - methods; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Plastic Surgery; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Flaps; Thoracic Wall; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0364-216X; 1432-5241
• DOI: 10.1007/s00266-014-0421-4

Breast reduction techniques strive to obtain a final aesthetic breast shape. The most difficult issues to address after breast surgery are providing consistent upper pole fullness and preventing recurrent ptosis. Our surgical approach is a superior pedicle vertical scar breast reduction with an inferior pedicle chest wall-based flap to enhance the projection of the breast. We describe our refinements to the previously described similar techniques to provide upper pole fullness with long-lasting breast shape and prevent the bottoming out deformity. Twenty-five patients underwent reduction mammoplasty and/or mastopexy (15 mastopexy, 10 reduction mammoplasty) using modified superior pedicle reduction mammoplasty supported with inferior pedicle chest wall-based flaps between 2009 and 2013. Medical records and follow-up outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. Scar widening was acceptable even for larger reduction cases. The aesthetic results of both reduction and mastopexy cases were satisfying. Upper pole fullness was maintained in the long-term follow-up. Significant bottoming out was not observed. No skin excess was noted at the inferior fold region in any of the cases. In our modified technique, tissue is excised in a beveled fashion under the superior pedicle and pillars, particularly from the lateral; hence, the chest wall flap does not cause tissue excess at the upper infra-areolar site of the vertical scar. Flexibility in choosing the location from which to remove the breast tissue provides a custom-made approach to shape each breast. The long-term results of our technique demonstrate minimal breast descent and sufficient upper pole fullness. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .