[Complications of breast reduction about 715 breasts]

Breast reduction is one of the most frequent operations in elective plastic surgery. The main objective of this study was to describe complications due to breast reduction, and to determine the risk factors.

Our comparative retrospective study reviewed the medical files of 715 operated breasts between 2004 and 2009. Statistical analyses were performed with bivariate analyses and multivariable analysis.

Smoking, resected mammary gland mass and stretch marks were the three risk factors associated with complications after breast reduction. Smoking was also associated with a high risk of hypertrophics carring. Body-mass index was not associated with a risk of general complications but with a risk of wound dehiscence. The superior pedicle and free nipple graft surgical techniques presented a higher complication rate than the postero-superior and postero-inferior pedicle techniques.

These results incite us to postpone and even contraindicate breast reduction surgery in obese and smoking patients. These results also incite us to prefer surgical techniques with optimum security in terms of vascular supply. Complications of breast reduction about 715 breasts.