Improvement of Superomedial Breast Reduction and Mastopexy with a New "Hammock" Flap.

Oncoplastic breast reduction shares similar aims and principles with esthetic surgery. Superomedial breast reduction provides harmony, symmetry, and satisfactory lower pole projection, but long-term outcomes are not consistently good. We describe our experience with a new hammock-shaped flap, which was combined with superomedial pedicle breast reduction to improve long-term outcomes by enhancing pedicle support and preventing ptosis recurrence.
METHODS: From January 2017 to June 2018, 10 patients underwent unilateral breast reduction (n = 7) or bilateral esthetic reduction (n = 3) by a novel approach combining a superomedial pedicle and a perforator-based inferior advancement flap. The flap is based on the inframammary fold (IMF) and fixed to the pectoralis major fascia and the pedicle like a hammock. Preoperative and postoperative (1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months) measurements included sternal notch-to-superior areola border length, nipple-to-IMF length, and lower pole convexity. Patients rated their satisfaction with breast shape, size, nipple-areola complex position, and lower pole projection at 12 months using a condensed form of the BREAST-Q questionnaire.
RESULTS: Esthetic outcomes at 12 and 18 months were good in all patients. There were no complications. Postoperative measurements were stable throughout follow-up. The BREAST-Q scores indicated that most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their breast(s).
CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary series demonstrates that the hammock flap, which is performed with autologous tissue, allows changing IMF position, it is safe, effective, and provides improved pedicle fixation and positioning. This technical refinement seems to afford good long-term outcomes in patients undergoing superomedial pedicle breast reduction and mastopexy.

INTRODUCTION

Reduction mammoplasty can be performed with several techniques and pedicles, including superior,[1] inferior,[2] central,[3] superolateral,[4] medial,[5] superomedial,[6,7] Lejour technique,[8] and Hall-Findlay superomedial pedicle.[9] Superomedial pedicle breast reduction is a versatile and reproducible approach ensuring satisfactory breast shape,[6,7] but not consistently good long-term outcomes. We report the results of superomedial pedicle breast reduction combined with a hammock-shaped flap, which was added as a technical refinement to enhance pedicle support and lower pole projection.

SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

Standard reduction landmarks are drawn with the patient standing. The new nipple position is determined by Pitanguy’s maneuver; the superior border of the areola is marked 2 cm above the nipple. The periareolar marking is drawn with a Wise keyhole pattern; the lateral and medial limb of the vertical scar are marked using the Aufricht maneuver. The Wise pattern is completed by marking the superomedial pedicle. Finally, the “hammock” flap is based inferiorly on the inframammary fold (IMF) as an advancement flap (Fig. 1). Flap size ranges from 6 × 3 cm2 to 16 × 8 cm2, depending on breast volume and chest size. The incision is performed along the preoperative markings. The nipple-areola complex (NAC) is drawn using an areola ring 38, 42, or 45 mm in diameter (See Video, [online], which displays a dissection of the hammock flap). After flap de-epithelialization, standard superomedial breast reduction is performed by removing only gland and fat tissue around the pedicle up to the superior flap border. Finally, the flap is dissected superiorly, medially, laterally, and inferiorly down to the fascial layer, including the mammary perforators (Fig. 2). After marking the IMF position, the flap is advanced superior and horizontal to the pedicle. Flap shape is adapted to the patient’s requirements and may consist of 2 triangles divided by a central rectangle or of parts of them (Fig. 1). The flap is fixed like a hammock to the pectoralis major fascia at the level of the fourth or fifth rib and to the pedicle using absorbable everting sutures (Fig. 2). It is first sutured to the deep pectoralis major fascia with 4 absorbable stitches and then through 2 muscle slings with absorbable sutures to avoid animation deformity.[10] The NAC may be medialized or lateralized. A drain is placed and the wound is sutured in layers.

Fig. 1.

Hammock flap (blue lines); superomedial pedicle (red lines); and breast reduction landmarks (black lines).

Video 1.

This video displays a dissection of the hammock flap.

Fig. 2.

The hammock flap was dissected superiorly, medially, laterally, and inferiorly down to the fascial layer and fixed to the pectoralis major fascia and the superomedial pedicle with absorbable everting sutures.

METHODS

From January 2017 to June 2018, a hammock-shaped flap was performed in 10 patients undergoing unilateral (n = 7) or esthetic bilateral breast reduction (n = 3). Three parameters—sternal notch-to-superior areola border length, nipple-IMF length, and lower pole convexity—were measured before the procedure and subsequently at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Patient satisfaction with breast shape, size, NAC position, and lower pole projection was rated at 12 months using a condensed form of the BREAST-Q questionnaire (Table 1), whose items are scored from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).[11]

Table 1.

BREAST-Q Scores

RESULTS

The follow-up data, 12 months for all patients and 18 months for 6, are reported in Table 2. Sternal notch-to-superior areola border distance, nipple-IMF distance, and lower pole convexity were stable throughout follow-up. All breasts had a natural shape in terms of upper pole fullness and lower pole projection. BREAST-Q[11] scores ranged from 3 to 5 (median, 4), indicating that most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with their breast(s) (Table 1) There were no major complications. One patient required the correction of dog ears on the horizontal scar.

Table 2.

Preoperative and Follow-up Data of the 10 Patients Included in the Study

DISCUSSION

Breast reduction is a common procedure that can be performed with a variety of approaches, pedicle types,[1-5,7] and skin resection patterns. However, all techniques involve some drawbacks. Most current procedures rely on parenchymal shaping,[9] rather than the realization of a skin brassiere, to obtain long-lasting results. Standard superomedial breast reduction[6,7] allows significant volume reduction through removal of glandular parenchyma from the lower pole, although it is less effective in oversized breasts.

The approach used to treat our 10 patients combines a superomedial pedicle[6,7] and an inferior advancement flap that ensures pedicle maintenance over time (Figs. 3 and 4). The tissue hammock is not harvested from the pedicle,[12] but through a dermoglandular flap supplied by the internal mammary perforators; pedicle and flap are separate but interconnected. The hammock flap combined with superomedial pedicle breast reduction enables IMF and NAC repositioning and lower pole rearrangement,[13] it achieves symmetry with the contralateral breast and also enhances NAC projection, although it has not been developed for this purpose.[14] It is suitable to treat contralateral healthy breasts in oncological patients, to achieve bilateral esthetic reduction (albeit not in excess of 1,000 g) and to correct moderate-to-severe ptosis (grade 3–4). A further advantage is that the hammock is obtained from autologous tissue.

Fig. 3.

Twelve-month outcomes: front view.

Fig. 4.

Twelve-month outcomes: the left oblique view demonstrates satisfactory lower pole projection and superomedial pedicle support.

Although none of our patients required oncoplastic reduction, the approach is likely to be successful in selected tumors of the lateral quadrants. The flap, which consists of a lateral triangle and a central rectangle, may be employed to fill and reshape the lateral breast, whereas it is unsuitable in patients with inferior, medial, or superomedial tumors.

We propose the hammock flap as a novel approach to obtain breasts with a natural shape in patients with a wide range of projection and shape requirements. The technique uses autologous tissue, which is versatile and easily reproducible. Ptosis recurrence was not observed and revision surgery was never required. Dog ear formation in one patient was most likely related to her obesity rather than to the surgical technique. Breast appearance and projection outcomes at 12 and 18 months are good to excellent.

CONCLUSIONS

The “hammock” flap enhances breast shape and contour and improves long-term pedicle support in superomedial breast reduction without use of heterologous tissue. Its shape can be adapted to the patient’s needs. Most patients were satisfied or very satisfied with 12- and 18-month outcomes. None experienced a recurrence of ptosis. The technique can be used to treat moderate-to-severe breast ptosis in esthetic and reconstructive surgery. Mastopexy patients are also expected to benefit. Investigation of a larger sample that also includes mastopexy patients is clearly warranted.