We’ve heard rumblings of an innovative use of GalaFLEX, a biologically-derived 2D scaffold for plastic and reconstructive surgery that helps support internal tissue, to help perk up breasts. The idea of an internal bra made of GalaFLEX inspired a handful of questions, so we asked a couple of our experts to weigh in on the the approach.
Featured Experts
- Amy Sprole, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Wichita, KS
- Bradley Bengtson, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Grand Rapids, MI
What is GalaFLEX?
“GalaFLEX is a synthetic, biodegradable mesh that has become popular for use as an ‘internal bra’ in breast surgery,” says Wichita, KS plastic surgeon Amy Sprole, MD. The mesh is a manufactured protein surgeons use as a suture to sew bone and tendon together, explains Grand Rapids, MI plastic surgeon Bradley Bengtson, MD. “It is woven into a scaffold material and used in breast surgery and other areas of the body, such as hernia repair.”
How does GalaFLEX work?
GalaFLEX is not an artificial plastic but rather a protein that bio-transforms into the patient’s own tissue, explains Dr. Bengston. “The P4HB polymer in it helps to support breast tissue and implants and is an extremely strong material and can bear the weight. It is eventually replaced by the patient’s collagen, so it transforms into a sheet of collagen of the patient’s tissue.”
What are the proposed benefits of using GalaFlex as an internal bra?
Dr. Sprole says GalaFLEX “Is thought to add soft tissue support for the weight of breasts and implants, intended to help reduce the recurrence of ptosis (droopiness).” The main benefits are to support a patient’s implant when the body doesn’t have the ability to provide enough support on its own, says Dr. Bengston, who most commonly uses it to address malposition repair or support during a revision where the implant is out of position on the chest.
“Galaflex can be used as a first-time augmentation or breast lift, particularly in weight loss patients or patients with very stretchy skin that will have trouble holding up an implant, a combined breast and implant weight of >500 cc’s-grams or in breast lift /breast reduction patients with larger breast weights,” explains Dr. Bengston. “ It can be used anywhere throughout the breast pocket to support the breast and/or implant.”
While Dr. Sprole doesn’t routinely recommend GalaFLEX—she thinks it’s worth a try for patients who have failed traditional breast lift techniques. “I also think that in patients that are at high risk for recurrent ptosis due to very thin skin, poor elasticity and heavy breast tissue, it is worth considering because it may help preserve the longevity of their breast surgery result.”
