Experience with vertical mammaplasty: advantages and drawbacks of Hall-Findlay's superomedial pedicle technique and improving the results by adding modifications to the technique.
BACKGROUND
Vertical techniques have become a growing area in reduction mammaplasty. Although it has many advantages such as a smaller scar and durable results, some problems still persist. The Hall-Findlay superomedial pedicle technique is one approach to obtain better results but is not without drawbacks. Some modifications are suggested to overcome its problems.


METHODS
Superior pedicle vertical mammaplasty was performed for mastopexy, and superior, superomedial, and modified superomedial techniques were used for the reduction cases. Patients were followed up for at least 2 years and the complications were determined.


RESULTS
Mastopexy cases had almost no complications. In reduction cases, the most common problems involved circulation and scar widening with the superior pedicle technique and bottoming-out deformity with the superomedial Hall-Findlay technique. These were negligible in its modified form.


CONCLUSIONS
The tightness in the infra-areolar site is very important for a durable breast shape. Although the Hall-Findlay superomedial pedicle technique offers a versatile composite block nipple-areola complex with its sensation maintained, the inferior part of the pedicle that makes the medial pillar is in excess and the same amount of tissue must be removed from the lateral pillar to ensure tightness.


METHODS
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                                        .
Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Istanbul, Turkey.
Fuat
F
Yuksel
Huseyin
H
Karagoz
Celalettin
C
Sever
Yalcin
Y
Kulahci
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome