Axillary Approach Non-Skin-excisional Breast Mammaplasty (AABM): A New Breast "Sculpting" Technique for Breast Reduction.

[BACKGROUND] Previous breast reduction surgery almost always requires incisions on the breast, even if skin removal is not necessary, while East Asian patients prefer not to have scars on their breasts.

[OBJECTIVES] The author describes their experience with axillary approach breast mammaplasty (AABM), a novel technique for breast reduction.

[METHODS] A total of 35 women (70 breasts) who underwent AABM were evaluated in a prospective study. Very limited skin undermining and partial excision of the base of the breast cone by using glandular resection with or without liposuction ensured maximal blood supply to the breast. No pedicle was created to maximize the protection of NAC sensitivity. Using shaping bras to stabilize the breast and recreated the lateral boundary of the breast and the inframammary fold.

[RESULTS] The mean distance from the nipple to the sternal notch was 25.5 (22 to 30.5) cm, the mean NAC elevation was 4.2 cm, the mean lipoaspirate volume per breast was 530cc, and the mean glandular resection mass per breast was 187 g (90 to 345 g). No complications were observed.

[CONCLUSIONS] AABM is a safe and reliable option for breast reduction. It is indicated for patients who want no visible scarring on the breasts, desire only moderate reduction, and have mild ptosis with good skin elasticity.