Reduction mammaplasty for symptomatic macromastia: which factors influence the post-operative outcome?

• Published in: Archives of gynecology and obstetrics 2013-04, Vol.287 (4), p.715-722
• Main Authors: Radosa, Julia C., Radosa, Marc P., Baum, Sascha, Mavrova, Russalina, Camara, Oumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Breast - abnormalities; Breast - surgery; Endocrinology; Female; General Gynecology; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Hypertrophy - complications; Hypertrophy - surgery; Mammaplasty - statistics & numerical data; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Patient Satisfaction - statistics & numerical data; Surgical techniques; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0932-0067; 1432-0711
• DOI: 10.1007/s00404-012-2620-z

Purpose We evaluated the long-term results and patient’s satisfaction in reduction mammaplasties for symptomatic mammary hypertrophy. Methods From 2002 to 2008 a total of 92 women underwent bilateral mammaplasty for a symptomatic macromastia at our department. Three different surgical techniques for reduction mammaplasty were used (Bostwick, Stroembeck, Ribeiro). Patients were re-contacted in 2009 and asked to complete a self-assessment survey in order to asses their satisfaction with the post-operative symptom-relief and the overall outcome. Results 90.5 % of all patients stated, that they would retrospectively re-opt for a reduction mammaplasty. Preoperative patients' age, BMI and severity of macromasty-related symptoms were found to be factors positively correlated with a high post-interventional satisfaction with the achieved symptom-relief and the overall outcome. No correlation was found between the amount of intra-operatively resected breast tissue and the post-operative patients’ assessment. Patients’ assessment regarding the achieved post-operative symptom relief was comparable for all three surgical techniques, however the overall outcome rating for both bi-pedicled approaches (Stroembeck and Ribeiro) was higher compared to the mono-pedicled Bostwick technique. Conclusions Reduction mammaplasty for patients with a mammary hypertrophy and somatic symptoms could offer a causal and effective treatment. The predictive factors for a high patients’ satisfaction identified in this study could become a valuable tool in the pre-operative patients counceling and their role should be further evaluated prospectively. The use of bi-pedicled surgical techniques seems to favor a high post-operative patients’ assessment.