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Breast Surgery

Breast ptosis

Authors: Mia Demant, MD, Magnus Balslev Avnstorp, MD and Mia Steffensen, MD

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Breast-ptosis-Engelsk-Christian-Kaare-Paaskesen-1024x578.png
Figure 1 | Grades of breast ptosis.

Definition

Medical term for drooping breast tissue. The degree is categorized by evaluating the position of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold (IMF):

Grade I (mild ptosis): Nipple at the level of the IMF and above most of the lower breast tissue.
Grade II (moderate ptosis): Nipple below the IMF but higher than most of the breast tissue.
Grade III (severe ptosis): Nipple below the IMF and at the level of maximum breast downwards projection.
Glandular ptosis/pseudoptosis: Nipple is located either at or above the IMF. The lower half of the breast sags below the fold. Often seen when a woman stops nursing, as her milk glands atrophy.

Surgeries offered

  • Mastopexy (areolar or Wise pattern)
  • Augmentation
  • Mastopexy combined with augmentation (1)

Acknowledgments

Illustrators: Christian Paaskesen, med.stud.

References

  1. Kirwan L. A classification and algorithm for treatment of breast ptosis. Aesthet Surg J. 2002


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