This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Breast ptosis (classification)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Breast ptosis describes the sagging or drooping of the breast. The nipple-areola complex normally sits above the level of the infra-mammary fold in the young breast. Regnault described a classification system for ptosis that remains useful for planning surgery:

  • first degree: nipple at the level of the infra-mammary fold
  • second degree: nipple below the level of the infra-mammary fold but above the level of the most dependent (inferior) part of the breast contour
  • third degree: nipple below the level of the infra-mammary fold and sitting at the most dependent, inferior part of the breast contour

Additionally, a condition termed pseudo-ptosis has been defined as a loose breast that looks ptotic from a distance, but the nipple remains above the level of the infra-mammary fold.

 

Ref: (1) Regnault P. Breast ptosis. Definition and treatment. Clin Plast Surg 1976;3(2):193-203.


 

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.