Scarless Mastopexy with Lightweight Breast Implants

Breast ptosis is the result of reduced elasticity of the breast tissue over time causing the nipple areola complex to descend to a position that is level with or below the inframammary fold. As described by Regnault, breast ptosis results from a discrepancy between breast volume and the overlying skin envelope [1]. This can be resolved surgically by increasing the breast volume, reducing the skin envelope, or a combination of both by performing an augmentation/mastopexy. Breast augmentation is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in aesthetic plastic surgery. According to the American society of Plastic Surgeons Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, 300,378 such procedures were conducted last year, with mastopexy procedures at a count of 105,219 surgeries [2]. Breast augmentation alone may correct minimal ptosis or pseudoptosis, however, a significant number of patients who present for breast augmentation also need breast lifting. Increasing patient demand for the convenience of undergoing one procedure in place of two has led to the growing popularity of the combined augmentation-mastopexy operation. However this procedure is associated with a high degree of difficulty and has several limitations. Increasing the volume of the breast while simultaneously decreasing the skin envelope equates to surgery involving opposing forces.