The Wise pattern is a convenient tool for marking the outlines of the areola recipient site, and for marking the lower skin flaps of the "skin brassiere" in most of the currently used operations for mammary hypertrophy and ptosis. We find it useful, at times, to draw the pattern outline before making a final decision on which procedure to do. Rather than limiting the surgeon's judgement, these preoperative marks leave a wide spectrum of options open to meet the esthetic requirements, while keeping the basic landmarks properly located.