The dermal suspension sling: shaping the inferior pedicle during breast reduction

Complaints following reduction mammaplasty using the inferior pedicle include the migration of the deep tissue, a lack of medial fullness, poor projection, and bottoming-out. These are attributed to the lack of deep tissue suspension and skin envelope relaxation. We address these issues through horizontal dermal suspension and plication of the inferior pedicle.

The inferior pedicle is designed with medial and lateral triangular flaps in the areas, which would normally be excised. These triangular flaps are deepithelialized and defatted. The flaps are attached to the chest wall above the inferior pedicle to create a dermal sling. The breast mound is further contoured by horizontally plicating the dermis below the nipple-areola complex (NAC), which creates projection and rotates the NAC into the desired position in relation to the chest wall.

Sixty-six women have undergone breast reduction using the horizontal dermal suspension sling modification to the inferior pedicle breast reduction technique. Breast projection and shape were sustained during follow-up, of which the median interval was 16 months.

Dermal suspension and horizontal dermal plication provides a structural foundation to the inferior pedicle. The sling-like effect from the dermal suspension maintains a defined inframammary fold and maintains medial and lateral borders of the breast. Horizontal dermal plication shortens the length of the inferior pedicle while generating improved breast projection by rotating the NAC anteriorly. The firmly shaped inferior pedicle breast mound allows the skin flap to drape over the breast mound with minimal tension.