What is an Inframammary Fold – IMF Breast Surgery

At Coco Ruby Clinic you’ll find some of the best plastic surgeons and breast specialists that Melbourne has to offer. With years of experience and the latest surgical techniques, they take care in the placement of your inframammary fold during your breast surgery procedure, to bring you the best results.

Inframammary Fold – What Is the IMF?

The inframammary fold (IMF), also known as the inframammary crease or inframammary line is the border where your lower breast and chest meet. The location of the resulting groove is at the level of your fifth rib, extending downward to reach your sixth intercostal space (space between your sixth and seventh rib). The inframammary fold is undetectable during your childhood years and only comes to define the lower aspect of your breasts when you reach puberty.

Although the importance of the inframammary fold in cosmetic breast plastic surgery is well accepted, its anatomy remains a topic of controversy among plastic surgeons. Some consider the inframammary crease as a ligamentous structure that extends from your fifth rib and inserts into the inner layer of the overlying skin (dermis). Whilst, others disagree and prefer to classify it as a specialized interwoven network of collagen fibres. These fibres support your inframammary skin fold by adhering to a condensed superficial covering of connective tissue (fascia).

Regardless of its correct anatomical description, the inframammary fold is a defining feature in a woman’s breast shape and structure.

Inframammary Incision for Breast Surgery

The inframammary incision is a surgical incision made either along or underneath your existing inframammary crease. It’s the most common type of incision in both breast augmentation and breast reconstruction procedures. In fact, survey studies show more than 83.9% of plastic surgeons prefer this approach.

The advantages of an inframammary incision include;

• Direct visualization of the breast tissue and pocket
• Inframammary fold hides postoperative scarring
• Ability to reuse the same surgical incision location in revisional surgery
• And, more.

Your Inframammary Fold – Why Is It Important?

The inframammary fold serves as an important anatomical, functional, and surgical landmark for cosmetic plastic surgeons performing cosmetic breast surgery, be it breast augmentation, breast reduction, breast lift, breast revision or reconstruction procedure.

1. Breast Augmentation

A surgical incision within the inframammary fold offers a versatile wide access point for your plastic surgeon to place any type of breast implant, especially those larger in size, with precision. It allows for minimal breast tissue dissection, faster healing, and unnoticeable breast enhancement scarring concealed within the fold.

For best aesthetic results and minimal risk of implant malposition, careful surgical closure and stabilization of your inframammary fold are necessary during your breast augmentation procedure.

The ‘Lucky 8’ stitch is a surgical stitching technique that ensures a tight and firm inframammary fold. First invented by Swedish plastic surgeon Dr Charles Randquist, the Lucky 8 technique involves going in with a needle through the rib periosteum (bone covering) at the level of your IMF. Then your plastic surgeon will pierce your lower inframammary incision opening from inside to outside, and similarly grab your upper wound opening, to form a figure of 8 with the suture line.

Each inframammary incision usually requires three lucky 8 stitches to reestablish the inframammary crease anatomy.

2. Breast Reduction

Breast reduction or reduction mammaplasty are common plastic surgeries for women suffering from chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain or women who find physical activity difficult due to large heavy breasts. The majority of boob reduction surgeries employ the inframammary crease incision for premium results.

• Vertical or lollipop breast reduction involves two incision sites, one around your areola (pigmented area around the nipple) and the second is a vertical line running from the lower edge of your areola to your inframammary line. It’s perfect for those with considerable sagging who need a moderate breast reduction.
• The inverted-T breast reduction or Anchor technique also heavily relies on your inframammary fold as a surgery marker. Two incisions are made both vertically from the areola to your inframammary crease, and along the inframammary fold as well. A third surgical incision is also placed around the areola.

The access provided by the inframammary fold allows for a maximal degree of tissue removal and reshaping, ideal for those seeking significant boob reduction.

3. Breast Lift

Breast sagging, also known medically as breast ptosis, is a common cause of insecurity for many women. Plastic surgeons utilize the inframammary line as a tool to assess the varying degrees of breast sagging, allowing them to determine the right breast lift (mastopexy) option for you.

A normal breast has the nipple and tissue mound lying above the inframammary crease, while in ptotic breasts:

• Grade I (mild ptosis): Nipple lies at the level of the inframammary fold, above the lower contour of your breast
• Grade II (moderate ptosis): Nipple lies below the inframammary fold, but still above the lower contour of your breast
• And, Grade III (severe ptosis): Nipple lies below the inframammary fold, at the lower contour of your breast
• Pseudoptosis: Majority of your breast mound lies below the inframammary fold, but the nipple remains above it

4. Breast Revision

Breast implant revision surgery is a complex procedure that involves the removal or replacement of your current breast implants. Women undergo boob revision surgery to change the size or type of their implants, or to correct complications from primary breast augmentation procedures such as implant malposition.

Overenthusiastic dissection of the inframammary fold is one of the most common causes of implant malposition. The popcorn technique or capsulorrhaphy is a method used to reduce and correct the size of your implant pocket capsule. The capsule is the scar tissue layer formed around your breast implant. It’s your body’s automatic response to foreign objects and a normal part of your healing process.

The popcorn technique involves scorching the implant capsule with scattered small burns causing the capsule to shrink. Tightening of your implant capsule pocket and the new scar formation fixes your breast implants in place and prevents any future implant malposition or displacement. The popcorn technique gets its name from the snap and pop sound produced by the cautery tool used.

How Inframammary Fold Reconstruction works

The inframammary fold is one of the most difficult anatomical breast structures to recreate. However, it’s an obligatory step in breast reconstruction surgery as it determines your final aesthetic results. An ideal restored or reconstructed IMF should be well-defined, symmetrical to the contralateral breast, and has a sharp breast-chest angle to mimic natural breast drooping.

Preoperatively, your plastic surgeon will mark out your new inframammary crease line while you’re in a standing position. There, they will perform a surgical incision during your breast reconstruction procedure. Furthermore, after breast pocket dissection and implant placement are done, sutures will be placed to close off your breast pocket and reinforce your inframammary fold. The technique used in IMF reconstruction will depend on your;

Inframammary Fold Malposition – Mistakes Surgeon can make with the IMF

In cosmetic breast procedures, plastic surgeons frequently need to raise or lower your inframammary fold depending on the type of cosmetic breast surgery being done. For example, Breast augmentation usually requires your inframammary crease to be at a lower position to recruit more skin to accommodate your new breast implants. Whereas, Mastopexy and reduction mammaplasty on the other hand require the inframammary fold to be elevated.

Low Positioning – IMF too Low

Lowering the inframammary line is almost a routine step while performing breast enlargement surgery. However, if you have ptotic or tuberous breasts, improper lowering of your inframammary fold may result in low-lying breasts. It can also result in a double bubble deformity.

So, what causes a double-bubble?

It is a result of lowering your inframammary crease, without your plastic surgeon completely removing or obliterating your natural preexisting one. In such scenarios, your implants may descend, and leave your previous IMF intact, unstretched and visible. Low hanging breast tissue (due to ageing, pregnancy, or weight gain) can also cause a double bubble deformity over your original inframammary line, while your breast implants remain in their original position. This creates what appears to be a second bulge beneath your breast, hence the ‘double bubble’ description.

High Positioning – IMF too High

Positioning the inframammary crease higher is not uncommon during breast lift and breast reduction procedures. However, if your plastic surgeon lifts your inframammary fold too high from its natural location, you may end up with high riding breasts. And If the inframammary crease was positioned at the level of your nipple or higher, your breast may acquire “a ball in a sock” appearance. In other words, it has upper breast fullness with a down-pointing nipple.

 Medical Sources about Inframammary Fold or IMF