A Modified Superior Pedicle Mastopexy Technique With an Inferolateral-Based Auto Augmentation Flap.

Abstract

Current mastopexy techniques have evolved to decrease scar length and maintain a more consistent upper pole fullness, improving the breast shape. Many different approaches have tried to suspend breast tissues to achieve a more attractive upper pole. Most of the auto-augmentation mastopexy techniques use inferior-based breast parenchymal tissues to fill the upper part. This paper presents a modified approach to fill the breast's upper pole, with an inferolateral-based breast flap. The advantages of changing the inferior-based auto-augmentation technique to the inferolateral comprise improving blood supply and increasing repositioned breast flap's mobility. In our technique, the breast tissue used to auto-augment the upper pole receives its blood supply from pectoral perforators and lateral breast tissue. When surgeons need more flap mobility, they can raise the medial edge of this flap from the pectoral fascia to mobilize this flap higher on the chest wall, depending on the lateral blood supply. One other advantage is that when the inferolateral-based breast tissue is pulled in a superomedial direction to fill the upper part, the lateral ptotic breast tissues come closer to the breast meridian to meet with medial breast parenchyma easily. The tension on the vertical parenchymal suture line is reduced with this approach. Our technique can be used in most mastopexy operations and for all types of ptosis except for cases with insufficient breast volume. It brings safety to the auto-augmentation procedure and is also time-saving. The stability of breast shape and upper pole fullness lasts as long as other auto-augmentation procedures; therefore, it can be an excellent alternative to other techniques. 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 .