Summary
Background
Breast reduction surgery is successful in improving symptoms associated with breast
hypertrophy. We sought to substantiate this in the elderly patient and ascertain how
they regarded the outcome.
Methods
The WHO defines elderly as 60 and over. All elderly patients undergoing BBR for breast
hypertrophy over a ten-year period at a single institution were identified. Retrospective
review of medical records was conducted and patients asked to complete a postal questionnaire.
Results
25/29 (86%) patients responded. 88% felt surgery improved appearance and symptoms.
A statistically significant improvement in symptoms, appearance and confidence was
demonstrated. 54% of patients voiced negative concerns regarding their surgery. One
third were unhappy with final appearance. 2/24 regretted surgery.
Conclusions
Although studies showing positive outcomes for breast reduction in breast hypertrophy
are many, none have specifically looked at elderly patients. Most patients seek relief
of functional symptoms. Cosmesis seems to be less an issue. That they achieve improvement
in symptoms is reassuring, despite longevity of symptoms and possible concomitant
musculoskeletal degeneration. However despite satisfaction with relief of symptoms,
much dissatisfaction can be felt over less than perfect cosmesis. We feel attention
to detail is key, even in the elderly undergoing functional procedures.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic SurgeryAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Reduction mammaplasty improves symptoms of macromastia.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1993; 91: 1270-1276
- Reduction mammaplasty: long-term efficacy, morbidity, and patient satisfaction.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1995; 96: 1106-1110
- Reduction mammaplasty: an outcome study.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1997; 100: 875-883
- Reduction mammaplasty: symptoms, complications, and late results.Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 1998; 32: 281-286
- Long-term results and patient satisfaction with reduction mammaplasty.Ann Plast Surg. 1998; 41: 370-377
- Physical and psychological symptoms among 88 volunteer subjects compared with patients seeking plastic surgery procedures to the breast.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000; 105: 2366-2373
- The health burden of breast hypertrophy.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001; 108: 1591-1599
- The effects of mammary hypertrophy of the skeletal system.Ann Plast Surg. 1980; 5: 425-431
- Improvement of physical and psychological symptoms after breast reduction.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009; 62: 1647-1649
- Measuring patient-based outcomes in a plastic surgery service: breast reduction surgical patients.Br J Plast Surg. 1997; 50: 242-248
- Reduction mammaplasty is effective treatment according to two quality of life instruments. A prospective randomised clinical trial.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2008; 61: 1472-1478
- The impact of breast reduction surgery on low-back compressive forces and function in individuals with macromastia.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009; 124: 1393-1399
- Reduction mammaplasty: cosmetic or reconstructive procedure.Ann Plast Surg. 1991; 27: 232-237
- Motivational factors in women requesting augmentation and reduction mammaplasty.J Psychosom Res. 1990; 34: 509-514
- The improvement in quality of life after breast reduction is comparable to that after major joint replacement.Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 2008; 42: 194-198
- The outcome of reduction mammaplasty remains stable at 2-5 years follow-up: a prospective study.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011; 64: 573-576
- A prospective study of patients undergoing breast reduction surgery:health-related quality of life and clinical outcomes.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007; 120: 13-26
- Randomized clinical trial examining psychosocial and qaulity of life benefits of bilateral breast reduction surgery.Br J Surg. 2006; 93: 291-294
- Reduction mammaplasty is a functional operation, improving quality of life in symptomatic women: a prospective, single centre breast reduction outcome study.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000; 100: 1644-1652
- Long-term patient satisfaction following reduction mammoplasty.Ann Plast Surg. 1992; 28: 363-365
- The effect on the preoperative symptoms and the late results of Skoog’s reduction mammaplasty. A follow-up study of 149 patients.Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg. 1990; 24: 61-65
- Obesity and complications in breast reduction surgery: are restrictions justified?.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009; 62: 195-199
- The variation in breast density and its relationship to delayed wound healing: a prospective study of 40 reduction mammoplasties.J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2010; 63: 663-665
- Improving the results of inferior pedicle breast reduction using pedicle suspension and plication.Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2006; 30: 390-394
- Preservation of projection after reduction mammaplasty: long-term follow-up of the inferior pedicle technique.Plast Reconstr Surg. 1998; 82: 644-650
- Vertical versus Wise pattern breast reduction: patient satisfaction, revision rates and complications.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003; 112: 1573-1578
Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 07, 2011
Accepted:
September 21,
2011
Received:
August 4,
2011
Footnotes
☆Meetings presented: Poster publication, British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, 16–18th September 2009.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
