Evaluation of the Vertical Movement of Ribeiro’s Dermolipoglandular Mammary Flap One Year After Mammaplasties in Post-Bariatric Patients

Abstract

Background In 1971, Ribeiro isolated a segment in the inferior pole of the ptotic breast, nourished by muscular perforating vessels, and moved it cranially to the posterior region of the remaining detached breast tissue, where it was fixed to the pectoral fascia. This maneuver created a flap with autologous implant function, independent from the rest of the breast’s support, that maintained long-term mammary projection. Objectives The objectives of this study were to measure the vertical movement of this flap 1 year after mammaplasty and to evaluate the factors involved. Methods The sample included 13 patients who had previously undergone bariatric surgery. The position of a titanium marker attached to the Ribeiro flap was compared on chest radiographs taken 1 day and 1 year after the mammaplasty. The significance level was set at 5%. Results All of the titanium markers moved 0.6 cm to 4.1 cm caudally during the study period (average, 2.4 cm ± 1.02 cm). The greater the weight loss after the plastic surgery, the further the marker’s descent. Weight loss between bariatric surgery and plastic surgery, the vertical dimension of the ptotic breast tissue immediately before plastic surgery, the vertical extent of the nipple-areola complex elevation during mammaplasty, the Ribeiro flap thickness and volume, and the breast volume after mammaplasty were not associated with the vertical movement of the flap. Conclusions The Ribeiro flap employed in mammaplasty of patients who previously underwent bariatric surgery undergoes ptosis that is exacerbated by weight loss after mammaplasty. Level of Evidence: 4