No, not if what you want is an aesthetic flat closure. This "shelf" your surgeon is referring to is the inframammary fold (where your breast meets your chest wall, under the breast) and it is completely removed for an AFC along with all other excess tissue. Anecdotally, most patients we've heard from who had this left behind are unhappy with it. Also, the inframammary fold is used as "scaffolding" for implant reconstruction so be aware that some surgeons will want to leave it behind "in case you change your mind," and that's a red flag for flat denial.