The Gore-Tex Suture in Periareolar Closure: A Modified Closure Technique

In breast reduction and mastopexy procedures, the periareolar closure forms a vital component of the surgery. Periareolar closures completed with an absorbable suture may be prone to significant widening, hypertrophy and/or areolar distortion. In an effort to avoid this, some surgeons use a non-absorbable/permanent suture material [Franco (Arch Plast Surg 41 (6): 728-733, 2014)]. Hammond (Plast Reconstr Surg 119 (3):804-809, 2007) recommends the use of a Gore-Tex® suture for this purpose in view of the supple, pliable nature of the material; however, there remain at least occasional instances of infection and extrusion of the knot used to tie off the Gore-Tex "purse-string" [Franco (Arch Plast Surg 41 (6): 728-733, 2014); Salgarello (Aesthet Plast Surg 37 (5):1061-1062, 2013)]. We describe a method of securing the suture ends, which avoids the creation of a bulky knot, thus minimising the risk of infection and suture extrusion. Level of Evidence V This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .