{"id":118589,"date":"2026-11-11T23:31:37","date_gmt":"2026-11-11T23:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/blog\/uncategorized\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/"},"modified":"2026-11-11T23:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-11T23:32:20","slug":"mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastopexy and the B.A.G.S. system: what determines the upper pole"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<article>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Tabla de Contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#Mastopexy_and_the_BAGS_system_what_determines_the_upper_pole\" >Mastopexy and the B.A.G.S. system: what determines the upper pole<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#What_anatomical_problem_it_addresses\" >What anatomical problem it addresses<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#What_the_BAGS_system_offers_and_what_it_does_not_resolve\" >What the B.A.G.S. system offers and what it does not resolve<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#With_or_without_an_implant\" >With or without an implant<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#Who_is_not_a_candidate_or_not_yet\" >Who is not a candidate, or not yet<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#Recovery_without_a_miracle_timeline\" >Recovery, without a miracle timeline<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/mastopexy-and-the-b-a-g-s-system-what-determines-the-upper-pole\/#Medical_review_and_editorial_transparency\" >Medical review and editorial transparency<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mastopexy_and_the_BAGS_system_what_determines_the_upper_pole\"><\/span>Mastopexy and the B.A.G.S. system: what determines the upper pole<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p><strong>Mastopexy<\/strong> is the surgery that repositions the breast when the areola-nipple complex has descended and the skin no longer supports the existing volume. It is not a breast augmentation, a breast reduction, or a method for changing body weight. The outcome depends on the patient&#8217;s starting anatomy, the quality of the skin, and whether additional volume is needed. At Mallorca Medical Group, this decision is made during consultation, never based on a photograph.<\/p>\n<p>In Spain, breast lift surgery ranks among the most requested procedures across several age groups, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/secpre.org\/noticias-detalle-buscador\/279\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SECPRE study on the reality of aesthetic surgery in Spain (2022 data)<\/a>. This figure describes demand; it does not indicate that every patient with ptosis is a candidate for surgery.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_anatomical_problem_it_addresses\"><\/span>What anatomical problem it addresses<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Breast ptosis has been described for decades based on the position of the nipple relative to the inframammary fold. The Regnault classification (Clin Plast Surg, 1976) remains a useful reference for grading the degree of descent, not a scale that dictates a particular technique. During consultation, skin thickness, the clavicle-to-nipple distance, the breast base, and whether the lower pole is deflated or, conversely, laden with tissue are also assessed.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticsurgery.org\/cosmetic-procedures\/breast-lift\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Society of Plastic Surgeons<\/a> notes that a breast lift repositions the breast and removes excess skin, and that an implant is only used when the patient wants more volume than her own tissue can provide. This distinction prevents two common mistakes: operating only on the skin when volume is lacking, or placing an implant when the actual issue is positioning.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_the_BAGS_system_offers_and_what_it_does_not_resolve\"><\/span>What the B.A.G.S. system offers and what it does not resolve<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The B.A.G.S. system (Breast Anchoring Glandular Suspension) is a lift technique described by Dr. Jos\u00e9 Ignacio Garc\u00eda Ceballos, MD, FCCP, MRCS I England, to address the position and shape of the upper pole in mastopexy, with or without an implant, and also in certain revision procedures. The suspension is planned from inside the gland, accessed through the inframammary fold, to anchor the tissue and redistribute the patient&#8217;s own volume upward.<\/p>\n<p>It does not eliminate the scar. The inframammary incision is concealed by underwear in most cases, but it is a genuine scar, and its final appearance varies depending on the skin, tension, and aftercare. Nor does it create tissue if the patient&#8217;s own volume is insufficient: if the goal is a fuller cleavage than the anatomy allows, an implant should be considered, or a more modest result accepted. The <a href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/procedures\/plastic-surgery\/breast-surgery\/breast-uplift\/\">Mallorca Medical Group breast lift clinical page<\/a> summarizes these options without presenting them as equivalent.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"With_or_without_an_implant\"><\/span>With or without an implant<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Without an implant, mastopexy rearranges the existing tissue. This makes sense when there is sufficient volume and the patient accepts a higher, sometimes slightly smaller, breast, since some skin is removed. With an implant, projection is added. The implant does not replace anchoring: if the gland is not suspended, the added weight may cause the lower pole to descend again.<\/p>\n<p>The previously published article on <a href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/blog\/plastic-surgery-en\/breast-lift-without-implants-when-the-patients-own-tissue-is-sufficient\/\">when the patient&#8217;s own tissue is sufficient<\/a> covers that overlap. This article focuses on the upper pole: how it is determined whether internal suspension can improve it, and in which patients it is not worth attempting.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_is_not_a_candidate_or_not_yet\"><\/span>Who is not a candidate, or not yet<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Mastopexy is not indicated if the patient&#8217;s weight is not stable, if pregnancy is planned in the short term, if the expectation is a scar-free breast or one identical to someone else&#8217;s image, or if the examination shows minimal descent with discomfort limited to bra size. Smoking, a history of abnormal scarring, or an unstudied breast condition require postponing or ruling out surgery. Each case is individual.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Garc\u00eda Ceballos, licence number 070707779, with 25 years of practice in plastic, aesthetic, and reconstructive surgery, explains during consultation what can be improved and what cannot. The initial assessment is not a formality: it is the point at which surgery may be ruled out.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recovery_without_a_miracle_timeline\"><\/span>Recovery, without a miracle timeline<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Discharge and return to activity depend on the procedure performed, whether an implant is used, and each patient&#8217;s individual response. A supportive bra, rest for the upper body, and monitoring of the inframammary wound are part of the plan, not an optional detail. The final shape of the upper pole cannot be judged in the first week: swelling continues to change the contour for months.<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking for personalized guidance, <a href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/\">request your appointment at Mallorca Medical Group<\/a>. The consultation serves to inform and to decide, including when the right decision is not to operate.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n\n<!-- mmg-editorial-footer -->\n<hr class=\"mmg-editorial-footer-sep\" style=\"margin:2em 0 1em;border:none;border-top:1px solid #ddd;\"\/>\n<section class=\"mmg-editorial-footer\" style=\"font-size:0.85em;line-height:1.45;color:#555;\">\n  <h3 style=\"font-size:1em;margin:0 0 0.6em;color:#444;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Medical_review_and_editorial_transparency\"><\/span>Medical review and editorial transparency<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 0.4em;\"><strong>Medical review:<\/strong> Dr. Garc\u00eda Ceballos, 070707779, specialist in plastic, reconstructive, and aesthetic surgery<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 0.8em;\"><strong>Last reviewed:<\/strong> 11\/12\/2026<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 0.6em;\">This content has undergone human review and editorial oversight prior to publication. Mallorca Medical Group may use artificial intelligence tools to assist in certain stages of content creation, organization, translation, or editing. These tools do not replace medical review or professional judgment, and Mallorca Medical Group retains editorial responsibility for the published content.<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 0.6em;\">The information provided is intended solely for informational and educational purposes and does not replace an individualized medical assessment.<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/legal-2\/\"><strong>Review our Editorial Policy and Policy on the Use of Artificial Intelligence<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<!-- \/mmg-editorial-footer -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mastopexy repositions the breast when the nipple has descended. The B.A.G.S. system suspends the upper pole from the inframammary fold; it does not eliminate the scar or create volume if the patient&#8217;s own tissue is insufficient.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":118587,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[115,177,446,682],"tags":[394,440,1262,1263,2329,2330],"class_list":["post-118589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plastic-surgery-en","category-mamas-en","category-la-mejor-clinica-de-estetica-de-mallorca-en","category-consejos-cirugia-plastica-en","tag-mallorca-medical-group-en","tag-mastopexia-en","tag-cirugia-mamaria-en","tag-elevacion-mamaria-en","tag-b-a-g-s-system","tag-upper-pole"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118589"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118589\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":118591,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118589\/revisions\/118591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118587"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mallorcamedicalgroup.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}