Fig. 1.

Breast shape before (A, C) and after (B, D) vertical breast reduction. Breast projection is maintained and upper pole projection is increased. The nipple is slightly (and not ideally) overelevated. The upper pole contour describes a mild ogee curve before surgery and is slightly convex (upper pole projection/breast projection) after surgery. An elliptical shape of the lower pole is reduced to a semicircle. The mean lower pole ratio is just under 2.0. Illustrations are based on actual mean breast measurements. BME indicates breast mound elevation; BPR, breast parenchymal ratio; LPR, lower pole ratio; MPost, maximum postoperative breast projection.