Chignon Mastopexy — Technique Explained

The Chignon Mastopexy is a breast lift technique invented and published internationally by our surgeon, an EBOPRAS-certified plastic surgeon. It represents a conceptually different approach to mastopexy — addressing the internal glandular architecture of the breast rather than relying primarily on skin tightening.

This page explains the technique in clinical detail: the anatomical problem it solves, how it differs from standard breast lift methods, and the rationale behind the glandular flap approach. For a general guide to breast lift surgery — including all technique options, candidacy, recovery, and cost — see the Breast Lift guide.

Quick answer: The Chignon Mastopexy uses two internal glandular flaps — folded and suspended inside the breast — to create a durable anatomical support structure that restores central volume and projection without synthetic implants. It addresses glandular ptosis at its source rather than simply tightening the overlying skin. The technique was published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery journal (2018) and is indexed on PubMed.

The Anatomical Problem with Standard Breast Lifts

Conventional mastopexy primarily reshapes the skin envelope: excess skin is removed, the nipple-areola complex is repositioned, and the result is a breast that appears lifted immediately after surgery. The mechanism of support is skin tension.

The limitation: skin is subject to ongoing ageing, gravitational forces, and hormonal changes. In techniques that rely primarily on the skin envelope for support, the correction may gradually recede as the skin envelope stretches over time.

A second consideration: in many patients presenting with breast ptosis, the issue is not purely one of skin excess — the breast gland itself has descended and lost its youthful internal architecture. Tightening the skin without addressing the gland creates a result that does not fully restore the central fullness and projection associated with a younger breast shape.

The Chignon Technique — How It Works

The Chignon Mastopexy treats the breast as a three-dimensional sculpture. Instead of working solely with the skin envelope, the surgeon creates two internal glandular flaps from the patient’s own breast tissue.

These flaps are:

1. Folded — manipulated to increase the central density and projection of the internal glandular mass
2. Suspended — secured internally to the chest wall fascia or overlying tissue, providing an anatomical support structure

The name derives from the visual resemblance of the folded, elevated glandular structure to a chignon — the classic French hairstyle in which hair is coiled and lifted at the nape of the neck.

The result: central breast volume is restored using the patient’s own tissue, and the glandular suspension provides a durable internal support that does not rely solely on skin tension for its correction.

Publication

The technique was first published in:

“The Chignon Mastopexy: A Double Glandular Suspended Flaps for an Auto-Augmentation Effect”
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Springer, 2018
View on PubMed · View on ResearchGate · View on Springer

Published Clinical Case

A documented clinical case in the peer-reviewed literature illustrates the intended outcome: a 35-year-old woman treated for breast ptosis who declined implants and fat grafting in favour of a natural result. The Chignon Mastopexy was performed, preserving a minor degree of ptosis at one-year follow-up for a natural breast appearance. View the published case figure on ResearchGate.

Chignon Mastopexy vs. Standard Techniques

Incision and Scar Considerations

The Chignon Mastopexy uses incision patterns consistent with standard mastopexy — selected based on the degree of ptosis:

• Vertical (lollipop): periareolar incision + vertical scar to breast crease — suited to moderate ptosis
• Anchor (inverted-T): periareolar + vertical + horizontal crease — for significant ptosis requiring the most comprehensive correction

The internal glandular work is performed through these same incisions — no additional external scarring is required beyond what would be expected for the equivalent standard mastopexy.

Scar management and healing progression are discussed in full during the pre-operative consultation and monitored at follow-up appointments.

Who Is This Technique Suited For?

The Chignon Mastopexy may be appropriate for patients who:

• Present with breast ptosis (grade II or III — nipple at or below the inframammary fold)
• Have sufficient glandular tissue volume to allow flap creation
• Prefer to avoid synthetic implants (entirely autologous approach)
• Seek restoration of central breast projection and fullness — not purely repositioning
• Have realistic expectations and are in good general health

Individual anatomical assessment determines whether the Chignon technique, a standard mastopexy, or a combined approach (mastopexy + implants) is the most appropriate recommendation. This is discussed in full during the pre-operative consultation.

About the Surgeon

Our surgeon is an EBOPRAS-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, MD PhD, and the inventor of the Chignon Mastopexy. With over 20 years of international experience in breast surgery, the Chignon technique is part of a published academic contribution to mastopexy innovation.

Certified by the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (EBOPRAS), active member of ISAPS (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery) and ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons).

A pre-operative consultation includes a comprehensive clinical assessment, discussion of technique options, individual anatomy evaluation, full review of risks and realistic outcomes, and a personalised treatment plan. There is no obligation following consultation.

Individual outcomes vary. A pre-operative consultation is mandatory.

Book a Consultation · See Before & After Results · Surgeon Profile

Related procedures:

• Breast Lift (Mastopexy) — Full procedure details, techniques, and candidacy
• Breast Augmentation — For patients also seeking increased volume
• Breast Lipofilling — Natural volume addition without implants

Further reading:

• Breast Lift — Complete Guide — All technique options, recovery timeline, candidacy, and what to expect
• Fat Grafting — How fat transfer can complement mastopexy
• Cosmetic Surgery Dubai 2026 — Overview of all procedures and surgeon selection criteria

Sources

• The Chignon Mastopexy: A Double Glandular Suspended Flaps for an Auto-Augmentation Effect — PubMed
• The Chignon Mastopexy: A Double Glandular Suspended Flaps for an Auto-Augmentation Effect — ResearchGate
• Clinical case figure — 35-year-old woman, breast ptosis treated with Chignon Mastopexy for a natural look (ResearchGate)

The information in this article is provided for patient education purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Suitability for any surgical procedure must be determined through an individual clinical evaluation with a licensed specialist.