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Comparing fitness performance before and after breast reduction surgery
Kerry Latham1, Walter Brehm, Danny J Sharon
1Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, 8901 Rockville Pike, Building 9, 2nd Deck, Rockville, MD 20889, USA.
Background:
Breast reduction is one of the most commonly performed surgeries by plastic surgeons. Patients may receive many benefits and overall complications are low allowing for breast reduction to be a popular procedure offered by plastic surgeons. Fitness improvement is a perceived benefit but has not been objectively demonstrated, which is the purpose of this study.
Methods:
An IRB approved retrospective review of fitness performance scores before and after breast reduction for symptomatic macromastia in active duty women was performed.
Results:
No improvement or statistically significant difference was demonstrate in overall fitness, push-ups, sit-ups, waist measurement, or 1.5-mile run time. All women reported relief of symptoms of macromastia and felt more comfortable exercising.
Conclusions:
Although comfort during exercise improves, actual fitness performance remains unchanged. Fitness requirements of active duty members allowed for this unique opportunity to study actual fitness performance in breast reduction patients.
