Mammostat Breast Elevator

Breast Tissue Stabilisation in Reduction Mammaplasty and Mastopexy

The Mammostat Breast Elevator is a reusable elevator instrument in the Breast Surgery Instruments category, manufactured by BusinessMed Instruments®. It is indicated for use in plastic surgery, breast surgery, and reconstructive surgery.

The Mammostat Breast Elevator supports tissue stabilisation of the breast skin envelope, mammary tissue, and subcutaneous breast tissue during reduction mammaplasty, mastopexy, breast tissue elevation, and soft tissue retraction procedures. It provides stable elevation and counter-traction at the tissue surrounding the nipple–areolar complex (NAC) pedicle during the de-epithelialization phase.

Circular Ring Support Frame and Bipedal Base

The working end of the Mammostat Breast Elevator is a full Circular Ring Support Frame that positions beneath the breast and provides stable elevation and counter-traction across the breast skin envelope and underlying glandular tissue. The frame is mounted on a diverging bipedal base that terminates in a ratcheted locking bar with serrated teeth. The ratchet mechanism secures the frame at a set elevation position, sustaining static tissue support without slippage and allowing intraoperative tension adjustment across varying breast volumes — eliminating the need for active assistant involvement throughout the elevation phase. The Smooth Atraumatic Contact Surface of the Circular Ring Support Frame contacts the mammary tissue and breast skin envelope without penetration or laceration, preserving tissue integrity at the point of instrument application. The skeletonised frame features circular perforations distributed across its surface that reduce overall instrument weight, allow the surgeon to observe tissue through the frame during elevation, and improve steam penetration during autoclave reprocessing.

Dermal-Subdermal Cleavage Plane Visualisation

Stable counter-traction applied through the Circular Ring Support Frame and sustained by the ratcheted locking bar stretches the dermis uniformly, assisting visualisation of the dermal-subdermal cleavage plane during de-epithelialization. This assists the surgeon in identifying dissection depth to remove the germinal epithelium while supporting techniques intended to preserve the subdermal vascular plexus of the nipple-areola complex-bearing pedicle. Inadvertent disruption of the subdermal vascular plexus during de-epithelialization is a documented contributor to nipple-areolar complex (NAC) ischemia and necrosis in reduction mammaplasty literature, reported at up to 2.1% (complete) and 7.3% (partial). The Mammostat Breast Elevator supports techniques intended to preserve vascular plexus integrity during this phase of the procedure.

Clinical Uses and Applications

• Mammary tissue and the breast skin envelope are stabilised in reduction mammaplasty to maintain consistent counter-traction during the de-epithelialization phase.
• Tissue surrounding the nipple–areolar complex (NAC) pedicle is elevated and supported in mastopexy to provide hands-free tissue stabilisation throughout the operative field.
• The dermal-subdermal cleavage plane is made visually and tactilely distinct during reduction mammaplasty de-epithelialization, assisting identification of the dissection depth required to support preservation of the subdermal vascular plexus.
• The skin-glandular-adipose tissue complex is elevated in breast tissue elevation procedures to maintain static tissue position without active assistant involvement.
• Subcutaneous breast tissue is retracted in soft tissue retraction applications to sustain operative field access across plastic, breast, and reconstructive surgery.
• The nipple-areola complex-bearing pedicle is supported in the superomedial-posterior pedicle technique in reduction mammaplasty, assisting consistent tissue tension during pedicle de-epithelialization and NAC transposition.
• Static soft tissue retraction is provided in reconstructive breast surgery procedures requiring sustained hands-free tissue stabilisation.

Associated Instruments

• No. 15 scalpel — used in reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy for periareolar incisions and de-epithelialization
• Kocher forceps — used in reduction mammaplasty for pedicle traction during glandular block dissection
• Freeman areola marker — used in reduction mammaplasty and mastopexy for nipple–areolar complex circumference marking
• McKissock keyhole breast marker — used in Wise pattern reduction mammaplasty for skin pattern marking
• High-intensity electrosurgical scalpel / electrocautery — used in reduction mammaplasty for en bloc glandular tissue resection

Frequently Asked Questions

Clinical References

• La Padula S et al. Reduction Mammaplasty with Superomedial-Posterior Pedicle. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2023.
• Moncada G, Nichols P. De-epithelialization and Subdermal Vascular Plexus Preservation in Reduction Mammaplasty. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2022.
• Breast Reduction. StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
• Complications of Reduction Mammaplasty Including Nipple-Areolar Complex Necrosis. PubMed 27012800.
• Pedicle Vascular Integrity in Reduction Mammaplasty. PubMed 17496587.
• Freeman Areola Marker and Keyhole Pattern Instruments in Reduction Mammaplasty. PubMed 38499910.