Reduction mammaplasty: long-term efficacy, morbidity, and patient satisfaction

This retrospective study was designed to determine if reduction mammaplasty relieved preoperative symptoms in patients with macromastia. Seven-hundred and eighty women who had reduction mammaplasties between 1981 and 1992 were surveyed. Responses to questions concerning the preoperative and postoperative symptoms, breast size, complications, and satisfaction were elicited. Completed surveys were returned by 406 patients (52 percent) who had bilateral operations. The mean age at surgery was 38 years, with an average follow-up of 4.7 years. Preoperative complaints of shoulder grooving (94 percent), shoulder pains (93 percent), and back pains (81 percent) were significantly reduced following surgery (McNemar test, p < 0.0001). Cup size decreased an average of two sizes in 72 percent. There were 215 women (53 percent) with postoperative complications, and although most were minor, 20 (5 percent) required surgical correction. Self-esteem improved in 358 (88 percent), and most would have surgery again (93 percent) and would encourage others to have the same (94 percent). Reduction mammaplasty decreases breast size and significantly relieves preoperative symptoms associated with mammary hypertrophy. Relief of symptoms was the most common reason women gave for having the operation, and 87 percent were satisfied with the results despite frequent minor postoperative complications.