What is an IMF tuck? What can I expect from results?

Question

I am removing my 190cc implants, had for over a year with a breast lift. Surgeon says I don't need another lift but would benefit from an IMF tuck, I can't find any info on this online or more explanation. Is this common? What can I expect from results?

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

This as I also call it an inferior mastopexy is when the extra skin is removed from the breast tuck and the incision is placed along the inframammary/tuck crease. It is basically the horizontal or tuck incision only from a full lift.  This help reduce the extra skin stretch that has happened.Hope that helps.

Ronald J. Edelson, MD · Answer

You should ask your surgeon for clarification but it probably has to do with tightening the skin along the inframmamary fold where there probably is already a scar. If there is not a scar you should definitely speak to your surgeon to determine if an extra scar is worth it. It can also be accomplished from the inside of the breast.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Jennifer6645,
with this surgery your plastic surgeon will remove the excess skin from your upper abdomen by creating an incision under your breasts. I suggest you to discuss this in details with your plastic surgeon and don't forget to check before/after photos of the patients that your plastic surgeon operated. 
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

If the PS with whom you consulted is recommending the reverse TT and breast lift, you should ask to see photos of his/her work and have him/her answer all your questions.  A reverse tummy tuck will help with upper abdominal laxity.  The scars will be placed in the breast folds.  This can be a tricky procedure if the IMF is not strong enough to oppose the tension from the tummy flap.  This sometimes has to be reinforced to prevent IMF migration. This may be the only real option in some cases, but I would have to examine you to verify.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

The IMF tuck is removing the excess skin with the incision placed in the breast crease just below the breast. this is especially useful in women who have bottoming out and the implant and breast are sitting too low. It does not change the position of the nipple, but in the bottoming out categories, the nipples then look like they are back in a normal position.

Tracy Kayan, MD · Answer

There are probably a lot of different names to describe the same procedure, as it does not have an official name, as far as I know! This procedure, which removes a wedge of extra skin from the underside of the breast and hides the incision in the breast crease, is useful when removing implants because a lot of the time the implant has bottomed out and created a longer distance between the nipple and the lower breast crease. The removal of extra skin help make the breast appear more natural and round, and also allows the surgeon to reset the inframammary fold to a higher position if necessary. I would want to avoid this procedure on anyone whose nipple position is already low, because it can tend to pull the nipple downward, which is not favorable in all people.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD · Answer

Your pictures would have been helpful. I offer my patients implant removal and fat grafting with or without lift. please see the link.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

The type of tuck you mentioned refers to incisions along the breast fold and in between the breasts.  It addresses excess skin on the upper portion of the abdomen.  This type of tummy tuck is not standard as the tension of the incisions may cause the incisions to move down below the breasts where they are visible and difficult to hide under bathing suit tops/bras.  I encourage you to discuss this further with your surgeon and view multiple before/after photos in order to determine if it is right for you.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

Your surgeon is most likely referring to placing permanent internal sutures bringing up the upper part of the breast tissue onto the chest wall.if you envision a cross profile of your breast with the implant sitting against the rib cage with breast tissue surrounding it on the front. The top of the implant is 12 o’clock the bottom is 6 o’clock the rib cage is 3 o’clock at 9 o’clock points towards the nipple.Stitches are placed in the capsule which is a membrane your body forms surrounding the implant from the 7 o’clock position to about the 4 o’clock position. this brings to hang lower part of the breast up words.from your picture it looks like your implant bottomed out a little bit. This may be your natural breast shape or that your pocket was placed a little low when they put in the implants. we sometimes called is bottoming our. If the implant is put too low it doesn’t have a pectoralis muscle sling holding it in place and gravity and pressure from the contraction of the pectoralis muscle stretches the pocket and the breast stretches out inferiorly.If you’re not sure you should ask your surgeon exactly what he means and what He or a she  is  trying to achieve.In situations like your own it’s not simply doing the right procedure but doing the procedure correctly. There are various ways of approaching your breasts and if this is a technique that works best for your surgeon then have Faith and go with the recommendation.A talented surgeon will know what to do and deliver high-quality consistent outcomes.when in doubt consider a second opinion before having surgery.most plastic surgeons have lots of experience with implants and all the permutations to come with implant surgery.Best, Mats Hagstrom MD

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Hard to know exactly but probably they want to tuck extra skin in the lower pole inside and or tighten up the fold by tacking it down to the chest wall.

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