Narrow inferior-central septum–based pedicle: A safe technique to improve aesthetic outcomes in breast reduction

Inferior-central pedicle has some aesthetic drawbacks, including hypertrophic scar along the inframammary fold (IMF), squaring of the breast contours, and propensity to develop long-term ‘bottoming-out.’ This study aimed to verify if the narrow inferior-central (NIC) septum–based pedicle can allow the surgeon to improve aesthetic outcomes compared with the traditional inferior-central pedicle approach. Forty breasts underwent NIC-based breast reduction (group A), and 37 underwent traditional inferior-central pedicles (group B). The NIC pedicle was drawn with a width of 3.5–4.5 cm. The recorded measurements were sternal notch to nipple distance (S-N) and nipple to IMF distance (N-IMF) at the time of preoperative markings and follow-up 1, 6, and 18 months after the procedure. The two groups were homogeneous regarding demographics, operative data, and preoperative S-N and N-IMF distances. Both groups showed no total or partial nipple-areola necrosis. At the 18-month follow-up, S-N (p