WINEGLASS PATTERN FOR VERTICAL MAMMAPLASTY

The ideal reduction mammaplasty technique should create a pleasing bre ast shape with minimal scarring. The long and conspicuous scar associa ted with the classic inverted ''T'' pattern mammaplasty techniques are not acceptable for many patients. Periareolar mammaplasty techniques cause less scarring, but they have major disadvantages such as scar wi dening, areolar distortion, and insufficient boast projection. We used a new pattern for vertical mammaplasty to overcome the insufficient b reast projection caused by the round block technique and applied it to 51 patients during the last 3 years. This method results in a single vertical scar and a periareolar scar, allows sufficient volume reducti on, and provides good breast shape and projection; the results are dur able. This procedure is safe, causes few complications, and is easy to learn and perform.