Breast Lift - How Long Does the Horizontal Incision Extend?

I've lost around a 120 pounds with 30 more to go. I have some loose skin near the side of my breast right under my pit. Would this require a longer horizontal breast incision? I've only had one consultation so far. The doctor said he'd need to do a Wise Pattern breast lift. What does this mean?

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11 Doctor Answers | Asked by mittsy

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The length of breast lift scars depends on the amount of skin to be removed!

During a breast lift (mastopexy), the breast tissue beneath the skin is rearranged in a three-dimensional fashion, to reshape the breast itself. This is actually the most important part of the operation. In addition to this, excess skin must be removed, and the skin surrounding the breast tissue must be re-draped. In a very droopy breast, this is referred as "re draping the crepe". Since most breast lifts involve both a reduction of the "skin envelope"... more

How far should a breast reduction scar go around the body

Every individual is different but the key to how far the inframammary scar should extend around the torso is dependent on each patient. You have lost 120 pounds and are planning on losing a total of 150 pounds. Your photographs were taken with your left arm lifted which hikes up the involved skin. To determine the length of the scar your breast should be view with your arms at your side and see where your breast crease leaves your torso (it iresembles a... more

Scarring associated with Breast Lift

Typically a "wise-pattern" breast lift involves tissue tightening in all dimensions, with resulting scarring around the nipple, down the lower half of the breast and completely under the natural breast fold (inframammary crease). The inframammary crease, horizontal incision, needs to follow the complete length of your natural fold. If you stop short, a "dog-ear", or skin pucker, results from excess skin beyond the level of the scar. When there is extra skin and/or fat... more

Horizontal Incision Extend

Thanks for the photo. The "Wise" incision pattern is the key hole techniques or anchor. Yes I would extend the incision to the posterior axillary line. Seek further opinions.

Removing excess skin along bra strap

Hi Mittsy, A Wise pattern skin excision results in an anchor pattern scar. There is a circular scar at the edge of the areola, a vertical scar from the bottom, center of the areola to the breast fold/crease, and a scar along the inframammary fold (breast crease). As far as the extra skin is concerned, it depends on whether or not it extends from the breast fold. In the photo it looks like this fold is distinctly separate from the breast. If this is the case, with... more

Breast Lift Incisions

Breast lift incisions involve: 1. An incision around your areola. If you have a large areole, this can also be used to make a smaller one. This also allows the lifting of the nipple and areola. 2. An incision between your areola and the breast crease (under the breast). This allows for the breast tissue to be lifted. This is sometimes referred to as a "lollipop" incision. 3. In most cases, such as yours, an incision is made... more

The WISE pattern breast lift

Breast lift can take many forms depending on the position of the nipple relative to the fold under the breast, and the relative skin laxity. Most often a vertical or short scar breast lift will suffice, however if the skin is quite lax as in significant weight loss, the WISE pattern will reduce the skin excess the greatest amount. The WISE pattern is an inverted 'T' with the resulting scar within the fold under the breast and the stem extending from the center of the fold to the... more

Breast Lift and Horizontal Incision?

Congratulations on your significant weight loss. Most patients who have had this degree of weight loss benefits from breast lifting surgery (plus or minus breast implants); often this surgery involves removing skin along the vertical and horizontal dimensions. This is what the surgeon was referring to as the Wise pattern. The horizontal incision extends to the side as far as necessary to remove loose skin. Most patients prefer to have a scar on the lateral chest... more

SEE VIDEO BELOW: Horizontal scar for breast lift aka anchor lift aka Wise or Lexer pattern lift (mastopexy)

A Wise pattern lift is another name for a vertical/horizontal lift or Lexer pattern or more commonly known as the anchor. Your excess upper back skin may require a back lift extending all the way around the upper back beneath the bra strap or extension to the arm also known as a thoracobrachioplasty. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Incisions for breast reduction

There are several methods available for performing a breast reduction, and they involve different locations and placement of scars. A Wise pattern reduction includes an inframammary scar, placed under the breast. It may be extended laterally to remove excess skin at the side of the breast.