Introduction
Patients with thick pendulous breasts have trouble participating in physical activities like sports and exercise. The inability to exercise may increase the likelihood of obesity, which worsens the condition of the breasts and makes it more challenging for these women to find apparel and brassieres that fit appropriately. Brassieres and specially designed garments are therefore required for the majority of them. However, even though these ladies wear specially constructed brassieres, the strain the straps put on their shoulders to support their large breasts causes them to develop unattractive and unpleasant grooves.
Why Is Bra Strap Shoulder Groove Deformity Caused in Women?
Most of the effort needed to support a woman's breasts is concentrated in the top ridge of the shoulder, just beneath the brassiere strap. The "bra strap defect" appears as a noticeable depression in the soft tissue due to years of continuous weight-bearing stress or in conjunction with breast hyperplasia. While breast reduction surgery can address the bulk of these issues, it cannot address the specific issue of shoulders developing grooves from brassiere straps due to breast weight.
What Are Different Types of Groove Deformities?
Type I: Mild deformity with no noticeable indentations on shoulders.
Type II: Mild to moderate indentations of 0.5 centimeters to 2 centimeters.
Type III: Severe indentations of more than two centimeters are seen on shoulders.
What Are the Noninvasive Procedures to Correct the Bra Strap Groove Deformity
-
Apply a Scrub that Exfoliates on Shoulders: Daily exfoliation will aid in fading those scars and encourage the formation of new skin.
-
Use a Hydrating Mask to Calm the Skin: Strong wetness makes the skin look smoother and may hide little dents that have not been present for very long. Because hydrated skin is healthier and more resilient, it will recover more quickly if the straps irritate or apply too much pressure.
-
Rub the Shoulders Together to Promote Circulation: Boost blood flow to hasten the healing process. The shoulders, neck, and upper back should be massaged with a mild oil, such as almond or olive oil.
-
Using Skincare Treatments that Lighten Scars: Bra strap marks can be treated using skincare treatments that lighten scars. The alpha hydroxy peels that help fade acne scars on the face can also assist with shoulder strap marks. The product is safe to use anywhere, even if it is made exclusively for the face. The indentations themselves may not be affected by these products. However, the grooves will only be as obvious with the markings. If one is using alpha hydroxy acids to cure bra strap marks, apply sunscreen on their shoulders at all times since alpha hydroxy acids make the skin more susceptible to the sun.
-
Apply Makeup to Hide the Scars: If one is going out and intends to show off their shoulders, use foundation as a temporary remedy. To hide the spots, dab on some basic concealer. To set it, add a little loose powder. If the markings are faint enough, using a concealer might be helpful. If not, try a cream makeup product made especially for hiding scars. The most powerful creme concealer for scars is only available with a prescription. Consult a dermatologist if black markings are difficult to conceal with over-the-counter cosmetics.
-
Get the Bra Fitted by a Professional: By ensuring that bras fit properly, one may avoid indentations. According to research, up to 80 percent of women wear bras that are different from the right size. Check bra size if it has been a while, or have professional help to measure it. One may use a free sports bra application to identify the one that fits the best, thanks to a collaboration between Breast Research Australia (BRA) and the Australian Institute of Sport.
-
Use of Strapless Bra: Release some of the weight from the shoulders so they can recover. To give the shoulders a break, consider switching between usual bras and strapless bras on occasion. The strap marks will likely disappear after just a few days of wearing a strapless bra.
-
Crossing of Straps: Unhook bra straps and slightly relax them if they unhook in the back. Reattach them after crossing them behind the back. Put on the bra and make the necessary adjustments to the straps. Individuals will notice that the straps on the shoulders feel less tight, which usually reduces the possibility of having indentations.
-
Using Bra Strap Cushions: The easiest way to prevent skin-piercing marks from bra straps is to use bra strap cushions. If the shoulder straps on a bra are extremely thin, adding a cushion might assist in protecting the shoulders.
What Are the Surgical Procedures Available for Bra Strap Shoulder Groove Deformity?
-
Reduction Mammaplasty: Reducing mammaplasty is the sole treatment option for enlarged breasts. Patients were delighted due to the 93 percent decrease in discomfort and 62 percent increase in activity levels following the reduction of mammaplasty. Incisions are typically made on the breasts during breast reduction surgery, and extra skin, glandular tissue, and fat are surgically removed. In rare circumstances, the excision methods mentioned may be combined with liposuction to remove extra fat.
-
Autologous Fat Transplant: Since its inception more than a century ago, autologous fat transplantation has made significant strides, proven therapeutic, and transformed the scope and practice of soft-tissue augmentation. Lower abdominal fat was taken from the patient. A two-milliliter incision was created in the lower pole of the umbilicus following the injection of 100 milliliters of a 0.5 percent Bupivacaine and 1:200 000 Epinephrine solution into the lower abdomen. After that, a ten-milliliter syringe's plunger was gently retracted to create negative pressure. A towel forceps were applied to the plunger during the suction technique to maintain the negative pressure. The cannula was two millimeters in diameter, 26 centimeters long, with a blunt tip. Once the doctor removes the required fat quantity, the stab wound is closed with 5.0 monocryl thread. Elastic garments are then used to cover the lower abdomen.
What Are the Disadvantages of Surgical Procedure?
-
Cell membranes are exposed to negative pressure in the syringe during extraction; it has been demonstrated that using a vacuum pressure of 700 millimeters of mercury causes membrane breakage and fat cell vaporization.
-
To achieve the required structural modification, refined fat packages must be supplied to the recipient location without stress, survive reliably and evenly, and integrate with host tissue.
-
These contour problems may be successfully remedied with improved harvesting, handling, and centrifugation processes.
What Are the Complications of Surgical Procedure?
-
Unevenness.
-
Deformation.
-
Overgrafting.
-
Infection.
-
Undergrafting.
-
Anesthesia dangers.
-
Bleeding (hematoma).
-
Clotting of blood.
To account for the inevitable volume loss and prevent the need for repeated grafting treatments, a 30 percent intraoperative overcorrection should be carried out.
Conclusion:
Patients who desired to wear strapless and decollete apparel complained about how the shoulder contours looked and wanted a more desired look. Brassiere strap grooves can be corrected by incorporating minor bra usage corrections. Still, few indentations need surgical treatment, like fat grafting or fat injections, along with reduction mammaplasty, to achieve the desired cosmetic result.
