Reduction Mammaplasty: Analysis of Patients' Weight, Resection Weights, and Late Complications

Abstract

The medical records of 291 patients who had undergone reduction mammaplasty were analysed. A total of 216 (74%) of the women were overweight and 67 (23%) to such a degree that according to our policy they should not have been candidates for operation. Most of the patients were young–199 (68%) were less than 40 years old and 110 (38%) were less than 25 years old. total bilateral resection weights in many younger women were quite low. Of the 199 patients less than 40 years old 64 (32%) had less than 500g total bilateral resection weight whereas 85 (92%) of the women 40 years old or more had resections of more than 500 g. Late complications were few–the rate of infection was similar in all weight groups. Fat and nipple necrosis–although rare–were more likely to occur in the obese and in patients over 30 years old.

Key Words:

• macromastia
• reduction mammaplasty
• body mass index
• late complications