Preferences of different breast reduction techniques: Survey of board-certified plastic surgeons

Breast reduction is a common and safe procedure with predicted cosmetic outcomes. Many techniques have evolved over the recent decades.

The aim of this study is to determine what type of breast reduction techniques are currently preferred among board certificated Saudi plastic surgeons and assess the surgeons' satisfaction, surgeon-reported patient satisfaction, and complication rates post breast reduction with the preferred techniques.

This is a cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire was adapted from previously published studies and distributed to a small group before full-scale distribution to Saudi plastic surgeons by email and communication groups.

The mean age of the participants was 45.4 (± 8.9). Most participants were males (82%), and the majority held a Saudi board (44%), and 20% held a Canadian board. Significant differences between different board certifications, held fellowship, and years of experience emerged in terms of surgical preferences. The two most common complications reported by surgeons were suture splitting (34%) and excess scarring (24%).

In Saudi Arabia, inverted T resection patterns with superior or superomedial pedicle designs are the standard techniques used in breast reduction, with higher satisfaction rates and fewer complications. Surgical preferences were significantly different between surgeons based on their training and held fellowships.