Can a Lowered Inframammary Fold Be Corrected?

Question

My doctor and I agreed to lower my inframammary fold due to some slight tubular deformity and ptosis. There are some problems with the outcome and its now been 6 months since surgery. First, my original crease cuts across the implant on both breast creating a double bubble effect. Second, my implants seem to have settled too low and one has even slid under the incision and the edge sits low on my rib cage. Third, because of where my implants have settled, I have no fold and and scar is visible.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

It sounds as if you may benefit from a revision with a capsulorrhaphy to recreate and elevate the inframammary fold and close off the pocket.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Tubular breasts are difficult cases.  Pictures in case would be extremely helpful.  There are several techniques to treat tubular breasts and lowered folds. Scoring the breast internally at your old fold may help lessen the appearance of your double bubble just to give you one method to address one of your issues.  Again pictures would be great.

	Dr. ES

Richard H. Fryer, MD · Answer

Asymmetry of the infra-mammary folds is fairly common pre-op, and therefore is fairly common post-op.  I usually point this out to my patients before surgery so that they know what to expect after surgery.

	If this bothers you significantly it can be revised with another surgery which uses sutures to help shape and or move the fold into a higher position.  Lowering the fold is much easier and requires only further separation of the tissue inferiorly.

	The presence of tubular breasts is a difficult problem to completely correct for some patients and is a frequent cause for re-operation.

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD · Answer

Unfortunately, when you are dealing with tubular breast deformity, it can require alot of work to really get eveything to sit and stretch the way it is supposed to. Without seeing pictures, it is hard to know exactly what is going on, but it sounds like the lower tissues did not release enough internally. Because of this, they do not stretch out the way they are supposed to, and instead of the breast tissue stretching, the implants push on the fold and end up sitting lower then they should. It sounds like you may need to go in there, release the tissues more, and reinforce the inframammary fold area with sutures, capsule work, ore even some sort of biologic material like Alloderm/Strattice. I hope this helps.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Sometimes the fold has to be elevated in tuberous breast deformities and scored to that the lwoer pole can expand. If the fold needs to be reinforced because of the problems that you are having, itmay be necessary. I couldn't say without an exam.

Can a Lowered Inframammary Fold Be Corrected?

Answers (9)