eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Breast

Breast Reduction, Amputation: Follow-up

Author: Curtis S F Wong, MD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Practice, Division of Surgery, Mercy Medical Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Oct 15, 2009

Outcome and Prognosis

Most patients polled postoperatively express considerable relief from their symptoms and satisfaction with the end result.

Many are encouraged to start weight loss programs, which are easier to participate in because of a patient's increased mobility.

There is less risk for "bottoming out" following this technique and better long-term preservation of the desired breast shape.

Full, unrestricted activities may be resumed one month after surgery with the use of a good quality sports bra (assuming there are no surgical complications).

Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient...

Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient A. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.

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Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient...

Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient A. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.


Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patien...

Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patient A. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.

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Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patien...

Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patient A. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.


Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient...

Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient B. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.

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Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient...

Preoperative photograph of the breasts of patient B. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.


Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patien...

Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patient B. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.

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Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patien...

Postoperative photograph of the breasts of patient B. Image courtesy of Curtis Wong, MD.


Future and Controversies

Continuous efforts are being made to find methods, such as the vertical mammaplasty by Lejour, that decrease scars yet produce predictable results.

The vertical pattern has been applied to nipple grafting techniques of breast reduction with satisfactory outcomes.

Theoretically, this technique removes most, if not all of the ductal tissue and should decrease risks for ductal carcinomas.

 
Acknowledgments

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous editor Saleh M Shenaq, MD, to the development and writing of this article.



More on Breast Reduction, Amputation

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Workup: Breast Reduction, Amputation
Treatment: Breast Reduction, Amputation
Follow-up: Breast Reduction, Amputation
Multimedia: Breast Reduction, Amputation
References
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References

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  2. Hawtof DB, Levine M, Kapetansky DI, Pieper D. Complications of reduction mammaplasty: comparison of nipple-areolar graft and pedicle. Ann Plast Surg. Jul 1989;23(1):3-10. [Medline].

  3. American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. Clinical Practice Guidelines for Female Breast Hypertrophy/Breast Reduction. 1993.

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  10. Bostwick J. Plastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. 2nd ed. Quality Medical Publishing; 2000.

  11. Casas LA, Byun MY, Depoli PA, Gradinger GP. Maximizing breast projection after free-nipple-graft reduction mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. Apr 1 2001;107(4):961-4. [Medline].

  12. Farina R, Villano JB. Reduction mammaplasty with free grafting of the nipple and areola. Br J Plast Surg. Oct 1972;25(4):393-8. [Medline].

  13. Letterman G, Schurter M. A comparison of modern methods of reduction mammaplasty. South Med J. Oct 1976;69(10):1367-71. [Medline].

  14. Netscher D. Mammography and Reduction Mammaplasty. Aesthetic Surg J. 1999;19(6):445.

  15. Schnur PL, Hoehn JG, Ilstrup DM, et al. Reduction mammaplasty: cosmetic or reconstructive procedure?. Ann Plast Surg. Sep 1991;27(3):232-7. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

breast reduction, breast amputation, reduction mammaplasty, nipple graft mammaplasty, amputation mammaplasty, free nipple graft, free nipple transplantation, mammogram, breast flaps, WISE pattern excisions

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Curtis S F Wong, MD, Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Practice, Division of Surgery, Mercy Medical Center
Curtis S F Wong, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and California Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Pankaj Tiwari, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Plastic Surgery, Ohio State University
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

CME Editor

Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD, Director, Colorado Plastic Surgery Center
Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

James Neal Long, MD, Assistant Professor of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Kirklin Clinics
James Neal Long, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Sigma Xi, Southeastern Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and Southeastern Surgical Congress
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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