title: [Experimental study of a polypropylene mesh for moulding and supporting a breast during a breast reduction procedure].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the polypropylene mesh acted for the moulding and support.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four mini-pigs were used in this experimental research. A polypropylene mesh was implanted under the skin on one side of each pig. An expander was thereafter placed in the deep layer to imitate the action of gravity to the skin and mesh. The specimens were collected in two different times for the biomechanics and histology examinations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The biomechanical data were shown lower and the histological properties were found changeable in the expanded skin without the mesh support, compared with the normal skin. However, the changes did not occur in the expanded skin with the mesh support. Furthermore, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the polypropylene mesh were significant less than the human skin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Polypropylene mesh could prevent the extended skin effectively and has moulding and support effects.
authors.affiliation: Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Center, Chinese Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100032, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Qiang
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jio-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhi-Fei
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Heng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Ke-Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes