Mammary Reconstruction Using Tissue Expander and Partial Detachment of the Pectoralis Major Muscle to Expand the Lower Breast Quadrants

Abstract

In Brief The techniques commonly used in breast reconstruction with tissue expanders do not provide a good definition of the lower breast quadrant. With the authors’ technique a better profile of the breast is achieved. Partial detachment of the pectoral muscle is performed, suturing it to the lower skin flap and thereby avoiding cranial migration of the expander. In addition a rounded shape of the lower quadrants is achieved and the expander remains in a subcutaneous position. Seventy-five patients underwent submuscular tissue expander breast reconstructions in which the pectoralis major origin in the lower inner quadrant was detached and sutured to the overlying skin flap, thereby filling out the breast contour and preventing upward migration of the expander.