Aesthetic role of the surgically rebuilt inframammary fold for implant-based breast reconstruction after mastectomy

The inframammary fold (IMF) represents one of the most important anatomic landmarks in defining a woman's breast ptosis and inferior quadrant shape. Therefore it is important to preserve it, if this is oncologically safe, at the time of excisional surgery. If it is sacrificed, dislocated cranially or caudally, or there is a thick panniculus adiposus with a poor definition of the fold, it is necessary to recreate it. We present our experience in the reconstruction of the IMF in patients suffering from post-oncologic mastectomy, reconstructed with silicone implants. From January 2000 to May 2004 at the Plastic Surgery Department of the University of Turin, 74 reconstructions of the IMF were performed through Nava's technique, partially modified by us. We believe that IMF reconstruction, through fixation of cutis, subcutis and fascia superficialis to VI rib, along with capsulectomy of periprotesic pocket inferior quadrants, is a milestone for achieving, in selected cases, a good aesthetic result in terms of shape, ptosis and projection of inferior pole. The comparison between patients' opinions (obtained through questionnaires) and surgeon's, at 1 year after the reconstruction, shows that both are satisfied with the achieved outcome in terms of shape, projection, symmetry, ptosis and IMF definition. Another comparison was made between cases of fold preservation and cases of fold reconstruction, with a remarkable similarity of aesthetic satisfaction. The technique proposed here appears to be the current method of choice for IMF reconstruction in all cases where it is necessary to recreate or redefine it. © 2006 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons.