There is a large group of women who have either lost considerable weight or who have experienced breast volume loss because of pregnancy and nursing. The result is often small sagging breasts which cannot be reshaped into attractive breast with augmentation alone, but require a breast lift (Mastopexy). If the patient exhibits only a small amount of sagging, a modest augmentation may be adequate to both enlarge and lift the breast. Depending on the amount of breast sagging will determine the techniques used to lift the breast. Mastopexy with or without breast augmentation is a “trade-off” operation, that is, improved breast shape versus the potential for scars, some of which can be unsatisfactory.
The type of operation is dependent upon the extent of breast sagging (mammary ptosis), with or without breast augmentation. Another way to explain breast ptosis, is to ask the question, “How far must the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) moved to place it at the apex of the breast mound.”
If you have the opportunity of viewing either breast reduction scars or mastopexy scars, you may have come upon the term “anchor scar”. It is called a McKissock or Inferior pedicle technique.
This technique produces scars around the areola, a vertical scar down the front of the breast and a long scar extending along the fold of the breast from the breast bone to the underarms. In the majority of patients, the scar is unsightly and unnecessary. The long term aesthetic results are not consistently good. This technique should NOT be used.
The vertical or short scar mastopexy eliminates the scars in the fold of the breast. The shape of the breast is less dependent on the tightness of the skin and the scars are significantly better.
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