A method is provided for performing a procedure to reposition a portion of a breast using a suture including a plurality of barbs. The barbs on a first portion of the suture adjacent a first end of the suture permit movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and prevent movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end. The barbs on a second portion of the suture adjacent a second end of the suture permit movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and prevent movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end. The method comprises the steps of inserting the first end of the suture through a first insertion point and causing the first portion of the suture to engage a tissue, inserting the second end of the suture through the first insertion point and advancing the second end of the suture through breast tissue to a first exit point located on the breast caudally of the first insertion point, and manually grouping and advancing the breast tissue relative to the suture towards the first insertion point to reposition a portion of the breast tissue.
1. A method of performing a cosmetic surgery on a breast using a barbed suture including an elongated body, first and second sharp pointed distal ends for penetrating tissue, and a plurality of barbs extending from the body, the barbs on a first portion of the body between the first end of the suture and a first axial location on the body permitting movement of the suture through the tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture relative to the tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of the body between the second end of the suture and a second axial location on the body which is less than the distance from the second end to the first axial location permitting movement of the suture through the tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture relative to the tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of: (a) inserting the first pointed end at an insertion point on the surface of a person's body; (b) pushing the first end of the suture through soft tissue until the first end of the suture extends out of the soft tissue at an exit point; (c) gripping and pulling the first end of the suture to draw the first portion of the suture through the soft tissue until the second axial location is proximate to the point of insertion of the first end of the suture and leaving a length of the first portion of the suture in the soft tissue between the point of insertion and exit point of the first end; (d) inserting the second pointed end of the suture at the point of insertion of the first end; (e) pushing the second end of the suture through breast tissue until the second end of the suture extends out of the breast tissue at an exit point; (f) gripping and pulling the second end of the suture to draw the second portion of the suture through the breast tissue until the second axial location is proximate to the point of insertion of the second end of the suture and leaving a length of the second portion of the suture in the breast tissue between the point of insertion and exit point of the second end; and (g) manually grouping and advancing the breast tissue relative to at least the second portion of the suture to provide a desired amount of lift.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed caudally through tissues of the breast.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed caudally through fatty and fibrous tissues of the breast.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed until the suture extends out of the breast at an exit point along the lower curvature of the breast.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed until the suture extends out of the breast at an exit point along the anterior aspect of the breast.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the suture is pushed through subcutaneous tissue, dermal tissue, and pectoralis muscle until extending out of the tissue.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed caudally through tissues of the breast.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed caudally through fatty and fibrous tissues of the breast.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed until the suture extends out of the breast at an exit point along the lower curvature of the breast.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second end of the suture is pushed until the suture extends out of the breast at an exit point along the anterior aspect of the breast.
11. A method of performing a procedure to reposition a portion of a breast using a suture including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of the suture adjacent a first end of the suture permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of the suture adjacent a second end of the suture permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the first end of the suture through a first insertion point and causing the first portion of the suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end of the suture through the first insertion point and advancing the second end of the suture through breast tissue to a first exit point located on the breast caudally of the first insertion point; and
c) manually grouping and advancing the breast tissue relative to the suture towards the first insertion point to reposition a portion of the breast tissue.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein step a) comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a subcutaneous tissue.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein step a) comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a muscle tissue.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein step a) comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a periosteal tissue.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein step b) comprises:
b) causing the second end of the suture to exit from the breast tissue through the first exit point on an anterior aspect of the breast.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein step b) comprises:
b) causing the second end of the suture to exit from the breast tissue through the first exit point on a lower curvature of the breast.
17. The method of claim 11 , using another suture including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of the another suture adjacent a first end of the another suture permitting movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of the another suture adjacent a second end of the another suture permitting movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the first end of the another suture through a second insertion point and causing the first portion of the another suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end of the another suture through the second insertion point and advancing the second end of the another suture caudally through breast tissue to a second exit point located on the breast caudally of the second insertion point; and
c) advancing the breast tissue towards the second insertion point to reposition a portion of the breast tissue.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the first insertion point is spaced from the second insertion point.
19. A method of performing cosmetic breast surgery on a breast using a first suture including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of the suture adjacent a first end of the suture permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of the suture adjacent a second end of the suture permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the first end of the first suture through a first insertion point and causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end of the first suture through the first insertion point and causing the second portion of the first suture to engage breast tissue located caudally of the first insertion point; and
c) manually grouping and advancing relative to the second portion of the first suture the breast tissue located caudally of the first insertion point towards the first insertion point to reposition a portion of the breast tissue.
20. The method of claim 19 , using a another suture including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of the another suture adjacent a first end of the another suture permitting movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of the another suture adjacent a second end of the another suture permitting movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the another suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the first end of the another suture through a second insertion point and causing the first portion of the another suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end of the another suture through the second insertion point and causing the second portion of the another suture to engage breast tissue located caudally of the first insertion point; and
c) manually grouping and advancing relative to the second portion of the first suture the breast tissue located caudally of the first insertion point towards the second insertion point to reposition a portion of the breast tissue.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first insertion point is spaced from the second insertion point.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein the method comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a subcutaneous tissue; and
b) causing the first portion of the another suture to engage a subcutaneous tissue.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein the method comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a muscle tissue; and
b) causing the first portion of the another suture to engage a muscle tissue.
24. The method of claim 20 wherein the method comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a periosteal tissue; and
b) causing the first portion of the another suture to engage a periosteal tissue.
25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the method comprises:
a) advancing the second end of the first suture caudally through fibrous and fatty breast tissue; and
b) advancing the second end of the another suture caudally through fibrous and fatty breast tissue.
26. A method of performing surgery using a first suture including a first portion comprising a first end and a plurality of barbs permitting movement of the first portion through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the first portion through tissue in the opposite direction, and a second portion comprising a second end and a plurality of barbs permitting movement of the second portion through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the second portion through tissue in the opposite direction, the method comprising the steps of:
a) inserting the first end through a first insertion point and causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end through the first insertion point and causing the second end to pass caudally through breast tissue to a first exit point; and
c) advancing the breast tissue relative to the second portion of the first suture to lift a portion of the breast tissue.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the first exit point is on one of an anterior aspect of the breast and a lower curvature of the breast.
28. The method of claim 27 , wherein step a) comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a subcutaneous tissue.
29. The method of claim 27 , wherein step a) comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a muscle tissue.
30. The method of claim 27 , wherein step a) comprises:
a) causing the first portion of the first suture to engage a periosteal tissue.
31. The method of claim 27 , further comprising using a second suture including a first portion comprising a first end and a plurality of barbs permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in the opposite direction, and a second portion comprising a second end and a plurality of barbs permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in the opposite direction, the method comprising:
a) inserting the first end of the second suture through a second insertion point and causing the first portion of the second suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end of the second suture through the second insertion point and causing the second end of the second suture to pass caudally through breast tissue to a second exit point;
c) advancing the breast tissue relative to the second portion of the second suture to lift a portion of the breast tissue.
32. The method of claim 31 , further comprising using a third suture including a first portion comprising a first end and a plurality of barbs permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in the opposite direction, and a second portion comprising a second end and a plurality of barbs permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in the opposite direction, the method comprising:
a) inserting the first end of the third suture through a third insertion point and causing the first portion of the third suture to engage a tissue;
b) inserting the second end of the third suture through the third insertion point and causing the second end of the third suture to pass caudally through breast tissue to a third exit point;
c) advancing the breast tissue relative to the second portion of the third suture to lift a portion of the breast tissue.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the first insertion point is spaced from the second insertion point.
34. The method of claim 32 wherein the first insertion point, second insertion point and third insertion point are each spaced one from another.