Background: Over the latest 15 years, breast augmentation with implant has been progressively refined technically and artistically. However, little attention is usually given to the intermammary space. The aim of this article is to report author's experience and technique in the safe reduction of the intermammary space in breast augmentation with implants without fat grafting.
Patients and methods: From July 2019 to July 2021, 62 consecutive patients undergoing cosmetic breast enhancement with implant and requesting a reduction of the intermammary space were retrospectively evaluated. Preoperatively, breast features were registered for all patients. Preoperative intermammary distance ranged from 2.3 to 7 cm (5.4 ± 0.74).
Results: The average follow-up time was 20 months (range 12 to 36 months). All implants were anatomical silicon-gel filled implants with micropolyurethane foam shell. No major early and late complications were experienced. The outcomes were graded as excellent in 45 breasts (72.6 %), very good in 15 (24.2%), good in the two cases (3.2%) with minor delayed wound healing (less than 1 cm) which solved conservatively within 1 month. Patients' satisfaction was high to very high. Postoperative intermammary distance was reduced in all cases and ranged from 1 to 4.5 (mean 2.6 ± 0.52 cm) CONCLUSION: The intermammary distance can be safely reduced with implant only in all cases who seek it, both via submuscular and via subfascial approach by a precise medial pocket dissection and implantation of micropolyurethane foam-coated implant, which guarantee device's stability during the healing process avoiding malposition.
Level of evidence iv: 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 .
Keywords: Augmentation mastopexy; Breast augmentation; Breast implant; Intermammary cleft; Vertical mastopexy.
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