Mastopexy with Mesh Support-North Carolina*

This 50-year-old woman was tired of her sagging enlarged breasts and wished to have smaller more perky-appearing breasts. She did not want breast implants. She had loose skin and enlarged areola. Because of her skin laxity, she was recommended to have mesh reinforcement to help maintain the shape. What is mesh reinforcement? Traditional mastopexy techniques involve a process of reshaping the breast tissue, elevating the nipple position and maintaining the majority of the breast tissue in a more compact mound. Patients with weight loss or very lax tissue will often have what is known as a dermal mastopexy with removal of the top layer of skin but preservation of the deeper dermis which can be sutured internally to form an " internal bra". Although this is quite effective, some newer techniques have incorporated a synthetic absorbable mesh which is wrapped around the newly shaped breast mound with suture material. During the healing process the mesh eventually absorbs harmlessly without significant scarring but allows the body's natural collagen to incorporate and maintain the shape of the breast for a longer period. Products like Galaflex and Durasorb- have been used by plastic surgeons in more recent years. These screen-like meshes are pliable enough to configure to the newly shaped breast but strong enough to maintain position during healing and they are made of the same material as dissolvable sutures. They typically are not palpable or visible..