Early complications of a reduction mammoplasty technique in the treatment of macromastia with or without breast cancer

Abstract

This study was planned to investigate the early postoperative complications of reduction mammoplasty done for benign or malignant reasons on 286 patients. Minor and major complication rates were 16.3% and 1.9%, respectively.There was no significant difference in terms of complications between the patients with and those without breast cancer. Body mass index was found to be the only factor associated with the complication rates.

Background: This study was planned to investigate the early postoperative complications after reduction mammoplasty applied either for benign or malignant reasons and reliability of the technique with respect to wound healing.

Patients and methods: Two hundred and eighty-six reduction procedures were evaluated prospectively. Fifty-two patients underwent reduction mammoplasty for macromastia and 101 for macromastia with breast cancer. The wound complications were evaluated in 2 groups, as minor and major complications. Seroma, hematoma, surgical site infection, delayed wound healing, and minor wound dehiscence were included in the minor complication group. Severe complications, such as necrosis of nipple-areola complex and major incisional wound dehiscence, were included in the major complications group.

Results: Mean (SD) age of the patients was 48.8 ± 10.3 years, mean (SD) body mass index was 29 ± 3.3 kg/m(2), and mean (SD) weight of resected specimen was 958 ± 72 g. Mean (SD) preoperative and postoperative volumes for each breast were 1245 ± 75 cm(3) and 436 ± 27 cm(3), respectively. Minor and major complication rates were 25/153 (16.3%) and 3/153 (1.9%), respectively. There was no significant difference in terms of complications between the patients with and without breast cancer. Body mass index was found to be the only factor associated with the complication rates.

Discussion: Reduction mammoplasty is a surgical technique that has satisfactory cosmetic results in the treatment of macromastia. This technique also is safe in the treatment of breast cancer patients with macromastia and does not increase complication rates.