Fascial suspension mastopexy

Abstract

Breast projection, preservation of the natural submam-mary fold, and breast shape still represent a challenge in aesthetic breast surgery. Various techniques have been suggested in the literature to achieve a pleasant, youthful breast shape, which would oppose the gravitational forces that create the continuous ptotic effect. Among these, different suspension sutures and breast parenchy-mal flaps have been suggested [1-5]. Factors contributing to the gravitational effect of the breast were discussed vastly in literature. Whilst much attention was given in the past to the skin envelope as a major contributor for durable projection, recent attention was shifed towards the internal arrangement of the breast as playing major role in this task. Latest techniques described especially by South American authors [1, 6] burrow a lower pole breast parenchymal flap underneath a bipedicled pectoralis major muscle flap. Although a more durable projection of the breast is obtained, these techniques were not supported world wide, because breast cancer screening was made difficult and compartments have been violated. In view of the concept that a durable mastopexy procedure should rely rather on the internal rearrangement and relocation of the parenchymal breast tissue and less on its external skin envelope, removed due to its excess, and in order to overcome the above mentioned criticisms, we have developed the Fascial Suspension Mastopexy (FSM). © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.