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

  • General Gynecology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Michelle Prochazka for her kind assistance in elaboration of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Julia C. Radosa.

Additional information

J. C. Radosa and M. P. Radosa contributed equally to this work.

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Radosa, J.C., Radosa, M.P., Baum, S. et al. Reduction mammaplasty for symptomatic macromastia: which factors influence the post-operative outcome?. Arch Gynecol Obstet 287, 715–722 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2620-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-012-2620-z

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