Association between preoperative measurements and resection weight in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty

Current guidelines used to predict appropriate resection weight for patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty are typically based on relatively nondescript patient characteristics and are most often inaccurate. The determination of patient measurements that correlate with resection weight could enable appropriate resection weight to be predicted more precisely and on an individualized basis. To better elucidate this, data from 348 patients undergoing bilateral reduction mammaplasty (696 breasts) between October 2001 and March 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. The association between resection weight and sternal notch to nipple distance (SNN), inframammary fold to nipple distance (IMFN), and body mass index (BMI) was assessed. Regression analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between resection weight and SNN distance (r = 0.672, P < 0.001), IMFN distance (r = 0.467, P < 0.001), and BMI (r = 0.510, P < 0.001). The strongest correlation was observed after incorporating all 3 parameters (r = 0.740, P < 0.001). This enabled the calculation of a formula to predict resection weight: Predicted weight = 40.0(SNN) + 24.7(IMFN) + 17.7(BMI) - 1443 In conclusion, resection weight correlates strongly with SNN, IMFN, and BMI in patients undergoing reduction mammaplasty. When considered together, resection weight can be predicted with a strong degree of accuracy.