Methods for mastopexy
A mastopexy implant for maintaining the breast in an elevated and aesthetically pleasing position includes a lower pole support comprising end portions which may be affixed to the chest wall or to a previously installed upper suspension strut. The implant is loaded in an insertion device. The insertion device is inserted through a small incision and into a subcutaneous pocket created in an inferior half of the breast. The lower pole support may have various constructs and in one embodiment includes a unitary conformable mesh having a plurality of arm or band members which are attached across the breast parenchyma and to the chest wall.
1. A method for elevating a lower pole of a breast from a first position to an elevated target position, the breast comprising a superficial, inferior half, and a NAC, the method comprising the steps of:
creating at least one access incision in the vicinity of the NAC;
dissecting in the superficial, inferior half of the breast through the at least one incision to create a space;
positioning a lower pole support into the space;
adjusting the position of the breast from the first position to the elevated target position; and
affixing the lower pole support after the breast is positioned in the elevated target position and wherein the affixing is performed by securing a plurality of straps radially extending from a body of the lower pole support to supportive tissue.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissecting is performed by blunt dissection, electrocautery, or wire subcision.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the affixing is performed by suturing the lower pole support to supportive tissue.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower pole support is biodegradable.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the lower pole support is porous.
6. A method for elevating a lower pole of a breast from a first position to an elevated target position, the breast comprising a superficial, inferior half, and a NAC, the method comprising the steps of:
creating at least one access incision in the vicinity of the NAC;
dissecting in the superficial, inferior half of the breast through the at least one incision to create a space;
positioning a lower pole support into the space;
forming the lower pole support into a 3-D shape;
adjusting the position of the breast from the first position to the elevated target position;
affixing the lower pole support after the breast is positioned in the elevated target position.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the forming is performed automatically upon release of the lower pole support.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower pole support comprises polydioxanone.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the body and straps comprise a silk-based material, poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or polydioxanone.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower pole support comprises poly-4-hydroxybutyrate (P4HB).
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of straps comprises more than five straps including at least two upper straps and two lower straps.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising extending the straps.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the straps are extended up to 10%.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower pole support comprises a synthetically derived product.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower pole support further comprises a naturally derived product, and wherein the naturally derived product is protein-based.
16. A method for elevating a lower pole of a breast from a first position to an elevated target position, the breast comprising a superficial, inferior half, and a NAC, the method comprising the steps of:
creating at least one access incision in the vicinity of the NAC;
dissecting in the superficial, inferior half of the breast through the at least one incision to create a space;
positioning a lower pole support into the space;
adjusting the position of the breast from the first position to the elevated target position; and
affixing the lower pole support after the breast is positioned in the elevated target position; and wherein the lower pole support further comprises a naturally derived product, and wherein the naturally derived product is allograft, autograft, or xenograft-based.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dissecting the space comprises creating a triangular shaped pocket.
18. The method of claim 5 , wherein the lower pole support is one of a mesh, fabric, woven construct, knitted construct, braided construct.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising fabricating the lower pole support by a technique selected from the group of nano-spinning, electro-spinning and melt-blowing.
20. A method for enhancing projection of a superior pole of the breast or the subareolar central mound of the breast, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a unitary flexible polymer-based bioabsorbable mesh in a substantially 2D configuration;
creating at least one access incision in the breast;
dissecting the breast through the at least one incision to create a superficial space;
cutting and folding the mesh into a 3D structure;
positioning the 3D structure into the space; and
affixing the 3D structure to supportive tissue in the breast; affixing the 3D structure support after the breast is positioned in the elevated target position and wherein the affixing is performed by securing a plurality of straps radially extending from a body of the lower pole support to supportive tissue (last occurrence).
21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the mesh has a pore size of about 1 mm.
22. The method of claim 20 , wherein a naturally derived product is added to the mesh, and wherein the naturally derived product is allograft, autograft, or xenograft-based.