Abstract

Background: The major disadvantage of the circumareolar mastopexy is the risk of hypertrophic scarring and relapse or widening of the areola.

Objective: The author describes a new technique that gives added support to the scar by means of a dermal overlap flap that is buried under the areola.

Methods: A doughnut incision is made, with the size of the outer circle dependent on the amount of ptosis to be corrected. The areolar flap is elevated close to the nipple pedicle, a circumferential incision is made through the dermis between the pedicle and the outer incision, and the dermal edge is elevated. After the mastopexy, closure is performed with nonabsorbable purse-string sutures.

Results: Initial results in a series of 34 cases have been encouraging, with no loss of nipple sensation and with less scarring and more natural nipple projection than occurs in conventional doughnut mastopexy procedures.

Conclusions: This technique can be used to reduce scarring in procedures such as mastopexy, breast reduction, and tubular breast correction.

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