Mammaplasty with a short horizontal scar. Evaluation and results after 9 years

To obtain a shorter horizontal branch of the inverted T used in mammaplasties, the senior author has developed a technique based on a vertical skin resection stopping above the inframammary line. An evaluation of the results after 9 years of experience has been carried out in 176 patients. Results were satisfactory overall because the shape obtained was pleasing and stable in most cases; the horizontal scar remained hidden beneath the breast in the standing position. Modifications and refinements of the technique since its first publication in 1980 are discussed.     

Central pedicle reduction mammaplasty with a vertical scar: a technical modification

Background: This study introduces a central pedicle reduction mammaplasty with a vertical scar technique.

Objectives: This study is aimed to create a more conical breast shape and long-lasting better projection by modifying reduction mammaplasty by central pedicle flap.

Method: Preoperative markings were made including the meridian line of breast and the new location of the nipple-areola complex (NAC). The new location of the inframammary fold was marked ～2?～?4?cm above the original inframammary fold. An incision was made around the areola, the area between the resection margins and NAC was excised en bloc. The breast parenchyma was excised circumferentially, so that a cone shaped central mound was formed. An inferior and inferolateral glandular resection was performed to reduce the area of the breast base by elevating the position of the inframammary fold. After completion of dissection, the central pedicle surmounted by the NAC was transposed to its new location.

Result: Fifty-six patients were operated with our modified central pedicle technique. The mean amount of resection was 475?g (range?=?130–1080?g). The mean length of follow-up was 18?months (range?=?12–53?months). The mean postoperative satisfaction score was 4.23 (SD?=?0.81). The breast parenchymal ratio significantly increased from 1.2 preoperatively to 3.9 postoperatively.

Conclusion: The modified central pedicle reduction mammaplasty with a vertical scar technique is a versatile breast reduction technique for all shapes and tissue conditions, by providing an attractive conical shape of the breast with minimum scar burden and maximum preservation of breast function.     

结合肿胀吸脂术的中央蒂乳房缩小术

目的 探讨一种新的乳房缩小术。方法 对9例乳腺肥大患者采用肿胀吸脂技术去除皮下脂肪，经环绕乳晕的内，外两个环形切口形成真皮帽，楔形切除乳腺后用“真皮帽”固定塑形。结果 术后乳房外形良好，天乳头乳晕坏死，切口皮肤皱褶于3个月内逐渐自然消失。结论 结合肿胀吸脂术的中央蒂乳房缩小术对于乳房中度肥大是一个简单，安全，有效的乳房缩小方法。     

"Vertical, triangular mammaplasty technique". Description, indications, six year retrospective study

The authors present a new mammaplasty technique with a vertical scar: the vertical triangular technique (VTT). A retrospective study was carried out on 82 patients, for six years, with a minimal hindsight of one year, an average glandular resection of 190 g and average liposuction of 60 mL. The technical principles are based on mammary liposuction of the basis, the inferior pole and the axillary extension, the glandular cavity of the inferior pole of the breast, the conical shape of the breast and the lower scar cutaneous bursa. The pitfalls and traps to avoid are described: the liposuction must be large enough except concerning segment IV, the cutaneous pinch must be hyper-corrected, the lower subcutaneous mastectomy must be complete, while a perfect suture of the glandular pillars conditions the shape of the future mammary cone. Short-term complications (7.5%) are the slackening of the bursa and seroma. Medium-term complications (< 10%) are the residual distortion of the bursa, an insufficiently tightened pinch, and a glandular resection defect. Analysis of the results of the VTT makes it possible to determine the long-term stability of the shape of the breasts, and to notice that the scar gain does not affect the morphological quality.     

Reduction Mammaplasty and Mastopexy Using the Vertical Scar and Thoracic Wall Flap Technique

Breast surgery has been greatly modified in the past few years as surgeons sought to shorten scars and improve and maintain of breast shape in the late postoperative period. Working with both the periareolar technique and vertical scar technique, it is possible to reduce scar length, avoiding the area below the inframammary crease by compensating skin excess around the areola. From January 2001 to July 2002, 53 patients underwent reduction mammaplasty and/or mastopexy using the vertical scar technique associated to a thoracic-based flap kept under a bipedicled flap of the pectoralis major muscle. The goal of this combination is to achieve a good aesthetic result: a reduced scar, minimal breast descent, and good upper pole fullness.     

Vertical Scar Mammaplasty in Gigantomastia: Retrospective Study of 115 Patients Treated Using the Modified Lejour Technique

Since 1996, the original technique of superior pedicle vertical scar mammaplasty described by Lejour has been modified by decreasing skin and glandular undermining, limiting liposuction, avoiding tight glandular stitches, and adding a small horizontal scar for very large breasts. Between 1996 and 2002, 115 consecutive patients underwent a bilateral reduction mammaplasty of more than 500 g per breast using the modified Lejour technique. The early, late, and delayed complications were studied according to four parameters: glandular resection, age, smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI). There was no difference in terms of complications according to the glandular resection. Patients with a high BMI were found to have a higher rate of wound dehiscence. The occurrence of partial areolar necrosis proved to be related to smoking habits. Patients younger than 20 years presented a lower rate of seroma. The modified Lejour technique has proved to be safe and effective for large breasts.     

乳房重度下垂的直线切口法乳房成形术

目的 介绍应用直线切口法乳房成形术(Lejour法)治疗重度乳房下垂方法及效果.方法 按Lejour法设计手术切口.该类患者新乳头位置较正常人群可适当下移1～2 cm,新乳房下皱襞上移5～10 cm,通过适当下移新乳头位置及上移新乳房下皱襞达到缩短垂直切口距离.剥离乳腺组织,将下垂乳腺组织从乳腺深层固定于胸大肌第2、3肋水平.皮肤无张力缝合.结果 36例中乳房肥大者30例、体积基本正常者6例,经术后3个月至2年随访,无明显并发症,新乳房外形挺拔自然,患者满意.结论 本术式简便易行,远期效果好,可作为重度乳房下垂的术式之一.     

The Asplund-Davies vertical scar breast reduction technique preserves the sub-areolar skin thickness in the long term: a matched comparative study with the inverted T technique.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The inverted T technique, a popular method of breast reduction, relies on stretching the skin over glandular breast tissue to create the breast shape. The Asplund-Davies vertical scar method of breast reduction by contrast uses glanduloplasty to create the desired breast shape, achieving tension-free skin closure. Indeed the skin at the end of the vertical scar technique is wrinkled. It is known from tissue expansion literature that when skin is placed under tension the dermis becomes thinner. In this pilot cross-sectional study we compared breast skin thickness between two matched groups of patients undergoing breast reduction either with the inverted T or the vertical scar techniques, to determine whether the method of breast reduction impacts on breast skin thickness in the long term. MATERIALS AND METHOD: With a high frequency ultrasound machine the breast skin thickness of 24 breasts, 12 in each group, was measured by an independent consultant radiologist. Patients were matched in terms of age, time since operation, Fitzpatrick skin type, preoperative cup size and the amount of tissue resected. RESULTS: The breast skin in the inverted T group was significantly thinner than the vertical scar group (P<0.001). The inverted T group also had thinner skin in comparison to its control point (P<0.05). The vertical scar group had comparable skin thickness compared to its control point (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: This pilot study suggests that tension-free closure of skin with the vertical scar technique maintains breast skin thickness. Maintenance of breast skin thickness in this group may in turn contribute to the long term preservation of breast shape and form.     

脂肪抽吸法副乳腺矫治术

目的：介绍将脂肪抽吸术应用于矫治副乳腺的8例临床实践经验。方法：根据患者不同情况分别采用单纯脂肪抽吸和脂肪抽吸 皮肤切除术两种手术方法治疗副乳腺。结果：所有患者完全吸除副乳腺及局部增生的脂肪组织，效果良好，无并发症发生。结论：脂肪抽吸法不仅可以应用小切口微创治疗副乳腺，而且很好的解决了副乳腺局部脂肪组织增生的问题，提供了副乳腺矫治的一种较好的新方法。     

Mammoplasty using liposuction and the periareolar incision

The major dilemma of reduction mammoplasty and mastopexy has been the difficult choice between a procedure that yields an ideal shape of the breast versus the size of the scar. With our technique, selected breasts can now be reduced through liposuction and the mastopexy performed through a periareolar incision, resulting in virtually imperceptible scarring.     

Short scar reduction mammaplasty in the bariatric patient

Reduction mammaplasty may be necessary even after massive weight loss. Patients typically present with unfavorable breast features such as significant loss of upper pole volume, inelastic skin, and severe ptosis. The most common approach in the United States has been the Wise-pattern inferior pedicle technique, emphasizing skin excision. This report presents the short scar vertical reduction mammaplasty approach for the bariatric patient population. It aims to demonstrate improved outcomes with less scar burden. The study included 15 women (n = 29 breast reductions) with mean age of 41.8 years. All the patients had undergone gastric bypass surgery, with mean weight loss of 109 pounds and mean body mass index of 33.3 kg/m(2). A modified superomedial pedicle vertical mammaplasty technique was used. New nipple position was placed lower than the inframammary fold in accordance with vertical lack of upper pole fullness. Suction-assisted lipectomy was used to contour the inferior pole of the breast before glandular resection. A full-thickness superomedial pedicle and median incision of the upper pole maximized pedicle safety. The mean breast resection was 605 g on the right side (range, 352-945) and 592 g on the left side (range, 360-908). Patient satisfaction was high, with pleasing and stable breast shape at long-term, and a mean patient-related aesthetic ranking of 4.3 of 5.0. No major complications were noted. It is shown that superomedial pedicle vertical reduction mammaplasty can be an alternative approach in bariatric patients, achieving long-term pleasing and stable results with significantly decreased scar burden.     

Breast Sculpturing: Overcoming the Limits of Traditional Approaches in Breast Reduction

Background  A technique based on original refinements of the vertical breast reduction was developed in our department. The aim of the technique was the safe and aggressive sculpture of an attractive breast mound with minimal scarring and long-lasting results that is easy to perform and suitable for teaching purposes in a surgical training unit. Methods  Fifty consecutive patients who were to undergo bilateral breast reduction were prospectively enrolled in the study. Accurate standard anthropometric measurements and photographs were taken preoperatively and postoperatively at 2, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months. A selective breast liposuction plus a superior pedicle breast reduction with a vertical scar skin pattern was performed in all cases. Results  Nipple lifting ranged from 5 to 14 cm; reduction of the distance between the inframammary fold and the nipple ranged from 0.5 to 7 cm; breast base width reduction ranged from 0 to 7 cm. Conclusion  This technique further contributes to vertical mammaplasty refinements, enhancing the key role of selective liposuction prior to surgical dissection of the breast. The basic principle is to convert a large breast into a middle-sized one, making vertical scar breast reduction the most appropriate technique for all cases. A thorough and selective liposuction of the breast mound reduces the breast cone base width safely and with virtually no limitations, thus breaking a taboo of traditional breast reduction techniques.     

直线法乳房成形术的临床应用

目的介绍直线法乳房成形术(Lejour法)及其改进方法。方法按Lejour法设计手术切口,剥离乳腺组织,仅保留上部蒂营养乳头、乳晕,去除部分肥大下部及基底乳腺组织,将剩余腺体组织的乳腺基底层固定于第2、3肋水平。重新塑形乳腺组织,皮肤无张力缝合。对于部分乳房肥大明显患者可以首先抽吸脂肪,主要减少乳房腺体内、外侧及侧胸部皮下脂肪。结果采用此法矫治巨乳症、单纯乳房下垂共48例,其中辅助脂肪抽吸13例,术后乳房外形美观,术后3个月随访,3例有修整乳晕瘢痕或乳房下皱襞瘢痕。结论本术式简便易行,且远期效果好,乳房外形挺拔,可作为乳房缩小悬吊术的可行术式之一。     

Seventeen Years of Experience with Reduction Mammaplasty Avoiding a Vertical Scar

BACKGROUND: It is important to reshape the breast with the least scar possible. This has led us to develop a technique for large breasts where the vertical scar was eliminated. METHODS: The new nipple is positioned at 19-21 cm. The level of the new inframammary line (IML) is marked 6 cm below the new areola. All the area between the marked IML and the present sulcus is de-epithelialized. The upper flap is undermined beginning from the new IML. The tissue excision is performed medially and laterally leaving a central pedicle that also carries the nipple-areola complex (NAC). The dermoglandular pedicle is shaped conically with breast-shaping sutures. The NAC is passed under the upper apron flap through its new opening. RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 145 patients who were operated on over the past 17 years. The mean age of the patients was 41 years. The mean distance preoperatively from midclavicle to nipple was 35.3 cm. The average weight of breast tissue excised was 1073 g per side. Seventeen patients (11%) suffered from minor complications. CONCLUSION: This technique works especially well in breast reduction cases where a large mass excision is required. The horizontal scar is obvious only when the patient is lying down and cannot be seen by the patient herself. There is no risk of destroying the circular feature of the areola, which is pulled inferiorly by the vertical scar in the other techniques.     

Objective evaluation of the results of interventions for breast hypertrophy]

It would appear to be impossible to compare completely different techniques of mammaplasty performed in very different clinical situations. However, we thought it would be useful to approach the result of mammaplasties from a more "orthopaedic" point of view. Such an approach distinguishes populations of patients with different results and in whom the postoperative assessment must take into account the result obtained, the residual scars and the final breast shape. A formula has been developed after multiple attempts: [formula: see text] This formula expresses positive factors: the quantity of glandular tissue removed (in grams), the final appearance of the scars, the appearance of the overall shape of the two reconstructed breasts and the reappearance of ptosis measured from the edges of the breast below the inframammary sulcus (in the erect position). In this way, it is possible to express these positive factors by the multiplying the scores attributed to each of the factors. For example, a resection of 150 g will be scored as 1.5 and a resection of 1,200 g will be scored as 12, i.e. the weight in grams is simply divided by 100 to give the score for weight. The scar will be scored according to an individual scale of 1 to 5. The shape will also be scored according to an individual scale of 1 to 5. The division factors include the length of the inframammary scar (segment 3); this inframammary vertical line will be included directly in the calculation. In contrast, the length of the horizontal inframammary scar will be divided by 10.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Periareolar reduction mammoplasty using an inferior dermal pedicle or a central pedicle.

The goals of reduction mammoplasty are to reduce the volume of a breast, to create an aesthetic shape that is stable over time, to maintain blood supply and innervation to the areolar complex, and to make fine limited scars. The present authors used periareolar reduction mammoplasty using an inferior dermal pedicle or a central pedicle. To minimise the scar, periareolar incision was performed. To reduce the volume of breast and to preserve blood supply and innervation to the nipple-areolar complex, a central or an inferior pedicle technique was used. To prevent areolar widening, a purse-string suture was used. A total of 82 breasts in 41 patients with very large breasts were operated on between July 1998 and June 2004. The mean age was 39, and the mean resection amount was 389 g per breast (right 413 g, left 364 g) with an average follow up of 28 months. Most of the patients were satisfied with the fine periareolar scar, the size of the breasts and the sensation of the nipple-areolar complex. The present authors have applied this procedure to all kinds of macromastia. Although the advantages of the periareolar reduction mammoplasty are an inconspicuous limited scar, a preservation of sensation to the nipple-areolar complex and a short operation time, 24 breasts (29%) showed areolar widening. There were persistent periareolar wrinkles in eight breasts (10%) and poor sensation to the nipple-areolar complex in 12 breasts (15%), in which more than 500 g of breast tissue was removed per breast. In conclusion, the periareolar reduction mammoplasty is optimal for patients who require a reduction of less than 500 g per breast. In severe macromastia with or without ptosis, the inverted T-incision is more preferable to periareolar incision, and periareolar incision can be modified by adding a wedge resection of the outer excess in skin flap inferiorly, which results in periareolar and vertical scars below the nipple-areolar complex.     

No-vertical-scar inferior pedicle breast reduction using the dermal suspension sling

Background

The authors previously presented favorable outcomes with the use of the horizontal dermal suspension sling and plication of the inferior pedicle in reduction mammaplasty surgical cases. We propose a modification to this technique tailored to patients with moderate to severe ptosis. The modification avoids the vertical scar inherent to the inverted T pattern.

Methods

The surgical technique utilizes portions of the dermal suspension and plication technique previously described by the authors. Minor modifications were made to take advantage of the vertical excess of skin found in patients with moderate to severe macromastia and ptotic breasts. The modification leads to a superior skin flap that drapes the inferior pedicle and newly constructed breast mound, resulting in a single inframammary scar.

Results

Thirty-eight women have undergone breast reduction using the vertical scarless inferior pedicle with horizontal dermal suspension and plication surgical technique. Breast projection and shape were sustained during follow-up with positive aesthetic results; the median follow–up time was 7 months.

Conclusions

The modifications to our surgical technique allowed for an improved appearance in the postoperative breast scar and in the overall cosmetic outcome in patients who underwent large-volume breast reductions. Level of Evidence: IV, therapeutic study     

The dermal pursestring suture: a new technique for a short inframammary scar in reduction mammaplasty and dermal mastopexy

The author hypothesized the possibility of reducing the extent of the scar formed at the inframammary sulcus in reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy by burying the dogear of excess skin in the region of the inframammary sulcus using a pursestring suture after first removing the epithelium. The results of 15 patients with follow-up periods ranging from 20 to 150 days encourage further application of this technique, which leaves a very small, aesthetically satisfactory scar.     

Breast reduction: evolution of a technique--a single vertical scar

In the past 20 years, patients have become more critical about the result of a breast reduction operation. Natural lasting shape and minimal residual scarring are now expected by most of the candidates to that surgery. In 1969 the author described a vertical technique that achieved reduction and good shape but the end of the vertical scar could be seen below the brassiere line. In 1977 the author modified the technique by adding a small horizontal scar that eliminated the visible part of the vertical scar. In this article the author demonstrates that the same technique he described in 1969 and modified in 1977 can produce a single residual vertical scar if properly used.     

应用皮肤皱缩缝合技术行垂直切口乳房缩小整形术

目的　减少乳房缩小整形术所导致的切口瘢痕。方法　在做乳房缩小整形术时 ,在乳房下皱襞处不做切口 ,仅保留乳晕周围和乳晕下垂直切口 ,对乳房进行悬吊和塑形 ,而对乳晕下多余的皮肤和较长的皮肤切口 ,应用皮肤皱缩缝合技术进行缝合 ,利用组织的弹性 ,使其在手术后自动逐渐展平。结果　共为 13例患者实施了垂直切口的乳房缩小整形术 ,术后切口皆一期愈合 ,无血肿、感染、皮肤或乳头坏死等并发症发生 ,除 3例巨乳合并乳房严重松垂者半年后需再次对下皱襞处多余皮肤进行小的修整外 ,其余患者术后乳房和垂直切口形态满意。结论　垂直切口乳房缩小整形术设计、操作简单 ,容易掌握 ,效果恒定 ,在保证乳房缩小整形良好的乳房形态的同时 ,避免了在乳房下皱襞处的切口 ,是一种较好的乳房缩小整形术式。