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Hypertrophy of the breast: a problem of beauty or health?

Heike Benditte-Klepetko1, Valerie Leisser, Tatjana Paternostro-Sluga

  • 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria. heike.benditte-klepetko@wienkav.at

Journal of Women'S Health (2002)
|October 2, 2007
PubMed

Insights

High breast weight negatively impacts women's physical and psychological health, increasing spine disorders and depression. This study supports the medical necessity of reduction mammaplasty for improved patient well-being.

Area of Science:

  • Plastic Surgery
  • Orthopedics
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Breast hypertrophy presents a significant health burden for women.
  • Insurance coverage for reduction mammaplasty is increasingly uncertain due to skepticism about its medical necessity.
  • This study aims to quantify the physical and psychological effects of breast weight.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the correlation between breast weight and physical morbidity in women.
  • To assess the impact of breast weight on psychological well-being.
  • To establish the medical necessity of reduction mammaplasty.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study involving 50 women (mean age 28, BMI <25) with varying breast sizes.
  • Measurement of breast weight, spinal MRI, and assessment of clinical spinal symptoms.
  • Evaluation of psychological impairment using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).

Main Results:

  • A positive correlation was found between increasing breast weight and the incidence of degenerative spine disorders.
  • Higher breast weight was significantly associated with increased depressive symptoms.
  • Pathological findings were correlated with breast weight.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated breast weight adversely affects women's physical and psychological health.
  • The study provides objective evidence supporting the medical necessity of reduction mammaplasty.
  • Findings should inform insurance coverage decisions for reduction mammaplasty procedures.
Abstract

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