Safety, efficacy, and modifications of the dermal bra technique for reduction mammaplasty and ptosis correction:  a 10-year retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
The dermal bra technique was reported by the authors in 2003 for reduction mammaplasty and ptosis correction. The authors have summarized and modified continuously and here share their experience and analyze the long-term safety and efficacy of this technique.


METHODS
Three hundred forty-seven patients underwent the dermal bra technique in the authors' department from October of 2003 to October of 2011, and 213 of them were followed successfully for 3 months to 2 years. Patients before and after October of 2006 were divided into early and late groups. The incidence of complications, the long-term satisfaction rate, and modifications that have been developed were noted and analyzed.


RESULTS
Short-term complications occurred in 55 breasts (7.9 percent), including hematoma (seroma), delayed wound healing, fat necrosis, deep folds, necrosis, and numbness of the nipple-areola complex. Long-term complications were found in 28 breasts (6.6 percent), including widened scar and enlarged areola, irregular areola, secondary ptosis, sunken nipple-areola complex, numbness of the nipple-areola complex, cyst, and chronic infection. Except for one case of nipple-areola complex numbness, all complications were corrected successfully. The long-term satisfaction rate was 95.7 percent. With three major modifications (W- or V-shaped gland resection, medial rotation of gland flap, and modified purse-string suture), the short-term and long-term complication rates (p < 0.01) and satisfaction rate (p < 0.05) of the late group were improved significantly compared with the early group.


CONCLUSIONS
Effective modifications have significantly improved the safety and efficacy of the dermal bra technique and have made it a mature approach for reduction mammaplasty and ptosis correction.


METHODS
Therapeutic, IV.
Wuhan and Beijing, People's Republic of China From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital.
Ke
K
Guo
Jiaming
J
Sun
Qun
Q
Qiao
Nengqiang
N
Guo
Liang
L
Guo
D000328:Adult; D020405:Dermis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult